Chapter 2
On his way home Len stopped by the corner store and purchased some chips and other snacks for himself. He'd recently grown fond of a special combination of flavors which included all dressed with sour cream. The clerk had shot him a dour look of disapproval like many had. He did look especially shady these days. He usually always changed out of his bleak school uniform the second he left school grounds but he was glad he hadn't yet due to his encounter with the carrot lady. He usually changed into a dark pair of jeans and a loose plaid button shirt always black in color with a black t-shit underneath: he never buttoned it up. Along with that was his dog tag on a black string that he always wore, sometimes under his shirt. His four ear piercings all the way from his earlobe to his very cartilage didn't assist his first impressions either. His hair was a roguish blonde, his eyes an intense blue though he never smiled.
Not too soon after he left the store and continued his walk home he felt a discomforting wetness in his pants. Looking down he noticed a very large orange stain in his jeans. Lightly he chuckled to himself not bothering to even wipe the stain away from his jeans. He mimicked the old lady's voice, her so called cursing tone.
"You will have stained clothes for all eternity," Len mocked putting on a little serenade as he did it. "And not just stained clothes messy hair too!" Oh, the horror, he thought with mirth before scoffing. Then he proceeded to tie his hair back into a small pony at the back of his head how he usually wore it.
Len knew his route home by heart, sit in the park, pass through the market, stop at the convenience store for food, and head on his way. He would be half way home when he reached the barred cement house. It wasn't anything special and honestly it was an eyesore of the neighborhood. An unpleasant little shack built completely out of stone and sloppy cement, with no grass, just pure dirt. The iron bars on the windows added the extra effect of a prison cell, except that it had way less light, and heating, and a bunch of other essential things.
A year ago Len had promised himself that he would get rid of it, since he couldn't stand eyesores. There was something just utterly despicable about that one unkept yard in a fairly privileged community. Now of course, he wasn't about to tend any yards or attend to any hellishly boring tasks such a gardening. He already had his own housework to do and that was plenty. Even too much. If only he could get rid of Kaito too. Sure, there were tons of guys like Kaito in his school. Complete immoral ambitions, hotheadedness, ignorance, and arrogance hung like a veil and covered his entire school in students and staff alike. He couldn't stand it but again, he hated all people.
Just when he started to walk away a rattling started inside the cement house that sounded much like the rustling of chains. That or Marley's Ghost was messing around inside. Paying it no mind he went on his way turning and walking in the direction of his house. Personally, he didn't want to get into whatever mess was going on in there, his neighborhood was know for the delinquents and all the trouble they caused. He of course didn't aid the cause with midnight mailbox raid games with his friends. A small tad of him though had a revolting urge to go see what was happening. It was his neighborhood after all. He should know what's going on in it, shouldn't he? Of course he did not one bit so ever want to help anyone who might be in potential danger or injured inside, not even a little. So if anyone really was in there he wouldn't get involved, not even if their life was on the line.
Making his way around the back until he spotted a door made out of the same colorless concrete Len entered. The cement door was heavy but not really challenging to get open. There wasn't much inside the house either, it was bland, plain, and dull just like the outside. Not to mention dirt particles drifted freely through the air. It was barren of furniture and likewise of any livable conditions.
"My room's bigger than this place," he said after a moments reflection. He blew off dust that already began to coat him and regretted the action when he inhaled a ridiculous amount recovering the air he'd lost. He went into a short fit of coughs as he pushed his way further in. What he confronted in the next room gave him pause. Chains hung from the ceiling. Each a different size and color. Some seemed newer while others wouldn't be that hard to break with a single tug. One thing was the same about each one though, every chain lead to the same door as if they were all attached to the same thing on the other side.
"What the actual hell," Len cursed as he cautiously approached the door.
His hands were shaking and for a moment he hesitated as he reached the crack of the open door. Anything could be on the other side of that door. All the chains meant that whatever was there, was supposed to be there. He imagined all kinds of savage beasts and surreal monsters. The same ones he'd seen in the video games and animes he watched in his free time. Then breathing in a good chunk of dusty air he pushed the door open nearly choking on all the dust.
To his astonishment all the chains outside were all latched onto a girl. A small petite blonde girl with rather short hair. She was beautiful despite all the dirt that was caked onto her clothes. She had an angelic air and her eyes were a brilliant blue much like his. The bits of her skin he could see without too much mud was fair and pale. Yet, why was such a delicate looking girl locked behind chains? As Len toed a newer chain he pondered why so many? There was no way such a soft girl needed this much confinement. Other questions rushed his mind such as why she was in here in the first place. Had this been some cruel joke? If it was, why wasn't she panicking or even alarmed in the slightest? She just continued to stare in front of her, not speaking a single world. Len slowly approached her being wary if this was a possible trap. There had to be some reason that such a beautiful girl was locked up in such an unsanitary place.
"Hey are you all right?" he asked taking another step closer to her. She didn't respond and only stared at the ground ahead of her. Delicate hands covered in mud settled in her lap. "Hey? Are you all right?" he called again, this time kneeling down next to her. Again she stared at the ground unresponsive. "Hey!" He yelled shaking her with a more aggressive than he'd meant to. He hated being ignored especially if he knew someone could hear him. What right did they have to?
Slowly she looked up, turning her head and stared at him. Her blue eyes pierced his but with no particular interest she held his gaze. The girl was silent. Still. As if she didn't feel the need to move. That, or she wasn't listening to him. Not wanting to get anymore involved than he already was Len entertained the thought of backing out slowly the way he came. Getting involved, taking interest, how could he? He didn't even know this girl yet, here he was. This wasn't him and neither was it his problem. So Len stood up and turned around. All he had to do was leave after all. He'd leave no trace of ever being here and it's not like the girl would care. Not like she was showing any intention of speaking to him. The sudden tug on his sleeve stopped him. It was the girl and she was standing looking at him. Her eyes gazing at him in a way that took him in as a whole. Len hadn't even heard her stand up.
"Take me with you," she spoke. Her voice was weak and rather pitiful. He was originally going to push her off, pull his sleeve away and get the hell outta there no matter how rude it was. Sadly, as his luck would have it, that didn't happen.
Before he could shake her and make his exit she collapsed in his arms: plain and simple. She was just as delicate and light as she looked. All the chains were conveniently broken too so he did what anyone would've done. Why he did it was beyond him and maybe the fall earlier today had done more damage than he'd estimated. Maybe he was sick with a rare cold that caused him to care and suffer serious kindness outbursts. Whatever it was, now here he was before his own house door carrying a girl in his arms. A girl he didn't know or even know the name of. Still he'd already come this far so there was no point of going back now. That would require too much time. He hadn't used any strength really to carry her here. So he might as well use the rest of it to help her on her way. Plus, she was quite cute. He would help her but not because he wanted too.
Slowly Len pushed the door open and snuck through the house hoping his brother had not come for a visit since he would only heckle him. It's not like he wanted to help this girl, its just that he just couldn't leave her there. Not to mention she had basically forced herself on him, falling in his arms and all. What was he supposed to do? Drop her on the ground? On that hard concrete that could shatter skulls? Not that he cared or anything. She was just a girl like any other. So once in his room he dropped her on his floor like he would have done if it was one of his female friends from school and she did not wake.
However afterponderingabit, in that spot she was in his way and if he at any point he needed to walk somewhere or if his family came by to check on him. By "check" it really meant bug. He definitely wouldn't be able to explain an unconscious girl in the middle of his floor, obviously. Even if he was a delinquent. The last thing he needed was to provide fuel for any kind of blackmail his siblings would make great use of.
He never really invited girls over. Much less into his own room. It was tidy and in a condition where girls could come into it, but he found girls on the annoying side. Especially ones from his school. They all really put the itch in bit-
"Len? You home," his brother's voice echoed from downstairs. Why did people always have crap timing? Out of all the times to drop by it had to be now? Quickly Len lifted the girl up and placed her on his bed before quickly throwing his blanket over her.
He couldn't believe he had to share his own bed. It was his and it was unfair that he couldn't be the only one to use it. He cringed at the amount of dirt would roll off the girl and stick to his sheets. He'd have to washed them and his clothes. He groaned at the thought of laundry. Still, if his brother ever found this girl, he shuddered. The endless black mail that would ensue, the errands, the chores, and the forking over of any and all cash. It was a horrifying thought. So really, sharing his bed and doing extra laundry was a small blip in comparison to blackmail and ridicule. Then the thought of her suffocation came to him under the blankets.
"She'll live," he said yanking the door closed behind him and rushing down to meet his brother.
"Hey, why did you leave the door wide open? What kinda rush were you in?" his brother immediately questioned the moment he got downstairs.
"I…had to use the bathroom. Didn't know I had to explain when I need to go," Len lied. His brother frowned.
"Alright, but next time close the door. Getting robbed shouldn't be on your bucket list. This neighborhood isn't exactly peachy either." Len rolled his eyes and stepped forward to close the door his brother hadn't even bothered to close himself.
Rinto had complained about the door being open and hadn't even bothered to close it himself. It was just like him. Len turned around and watched as Rinto headed up the stairs and disappeared behind a door. Thankfully he had not thought anything suspicious was going on and believed his whole bathroom story. Wait. Hadn't Rinto entered the room on the right...? Frantically Len sped upstairs, taking each step two at a time. He slammed open his door staring directly at Rinto who was searching his bookcase. Whichalsohappenedtobe right byhisbed.
"Haha, hey what are you doing in my room?" Len laughed calmly making sure not to let his frantic state show.
"I need a book," his brother confessed. Len rushed over and started pushing Rinto out towards the door.
"I'll get it for you. Just, get out." Rinto came to a complete stop
"You're getting things for me...? All right what did you do Len?" His brother asked eyeing him suspiciously. "What body is in there?" Len almost tensed. If only his brother knew. Len swallowed. He couldn't blow his cover this early.
"All right to tell to truth I have this girl I'm supposed to be talking to right now and you're really interrupting." Which wasn't a complete lie on his part. Rinto smiled at Len.
"My little bro is finally into girls huh. Alright," he smiled knowingly. "I'm Leaving." Rinto put his hands up in defeat. "But you're going to be due another visit from me. I travelled all the way here just to see my kid brother." Taking safety precautions Len followed Rinto all the way out the door where he got in his car and left. Once he was no longer visible Len headed back inside and locked the door. He walked back upstairs.
"That was close," he breathed. Sighing in relative relief and opening his door right there sitting on his bed was the girl. Turning she looked at him as he entered. Then before he knew what was happening she was on him, embracing him tightly. He shoved her back hastily ending the hug.
"Just what are you doing?" He yelled glaring at her. Why had she entered his personal space? Invaded it more than she already had? They were strangers yet, she had willingly hugged him, seriously throwing all caution to the wind. He didn't take too kindly to the entire violation. "You can't just hug random strangers! What if I had harmed you?" Blushing, the girl looked down and placed one hand on top of the other. She stared at him guilelessly. As if she hadn't just committed the most heinous of acts in his books.
"I'm sorry. Is hugging bad master?" she asked innocently. Len's entire face blushed a vivid red.
"M-master!? Hey when was this established?" he stammered just barely getting the words to come out of his mouth. What kind of self respecting human would bow and call someone master? Not anyone he knew that's for sure. Not even lackeys that followed and stuck to the strong like leeches.
"Well, of course I would call you master. Is that bad master?" It wasn't bad in particular. Actually he kinda liked it. Someone stating that he had a clear authority over them was bizarre. It was also nice since she owed it to him for picking her up. More people should look at things from her perspective and bow down to others. Of course by others he meant himself and only himself whether one knew him or not. Then with an abrupt frown Len shook his head fiercely. It could get troublesome if anyone thought they were doing weird stuff, which made her say weird stuff. For now he would house this girl. She had nowhere else to go and she had appealed to his authority.
"Yes, calling me master is bad so call me, Len." Her face seemed to brighten as she was accepted and she nodded complying to his wish.
"Len-sama," she said rather cheerfully.
"No, just Len," Len corrected.
"Len-kun?" she tried again tilting her head this time.
"No just Len is fine, really."
"I see." Her face brightened before she smiled and embraced him again. He shoved her back sourly and dusted off his clothes. Fixing them if she'd ruined them in the slightest.
"Enough with the hugs!" Disappointed she looked down. Frowning at her scolding.
"Are hugs bad?"
"Yes, well." She stared up at him, blue eyes yearning for an answer.
"Fine, hugs are acceptable." She got ready to jump him.
"But!" She froze in place arms open, balancing perfectly on one foot. "Only a few a day is all I can take, and that's when I allow you to hug me." She nodded and smiled again. She seemed to smile a lot, it was refreshing somehow. Since he had always been around people who constantly frowned and glared all day. People who hated their lives and needlessly took it out on others.
She had actual sheer happiness too. She wasn't smiling to try to threaten him like most girls at his school did. Then her arms dropped to her sides, she seemed slightly disappointed. So he hugged her though it was quite awkward for him. He had never really hugged anyone before. Again he had absolutely no recognition of why he did it. Delinquents don't hug others, they beat them. There was something about this girl that was odd and later he would set all the proper and necessary boundaries. Until then, this hug at least he could awkwardly suffice.