I'm not sure what to say anymore, except my routine `read, enjoy, and review´ type of stuff.

Chapter 3: Palette

Morning came back rather fast. Faster than I imagined, though I silently curse myself for waking up early around seven. I spent nearly thirty minutes cleaning the bed but stopped once I received a call from Aunt Aiko. I didn't hesitate for a second to pick up the phone and hear her voice. But most of the conversation was just her telling me how my cousin Miku and Mikuo were doing. Every so often within our talk I would try asking what the detectives told her, and yet she would avoid the topic.

For once in my life I felt upset by her. `Why must she ignore the topic?´ I thought quietly to myself as my hand automatically slid away from my ear, dropping the phone onto the floor. `I still continue to not understand people. ... I'm afraid I'm beginning to fail to understand my aunt as well.´ "It's like the people who're close to me are the ones who turn into strangers." I mumbled quietly to myself as I brought my knees up to my chest and stared at the floor towards the phone.

I never thought there would be a time in my life where I'd feel like I've reached the bottom-, "I'm glad to see you're up." I broke my gaze once I heard a familiar voice. Not just any voice, but Akaitos voice. So I turned to see him standing in the doorway. I was going to question when he walked inside my room, or ask how long had he been awake; but then the knowledge of him being an Insomniac struck me before I could even ask such things. "If you're not busy, would you like to try painting?" He spoke a little slow and I felt sorry for him once more. `I didn't really notice his speech being slow as well up until now. ... I thought it was just his reactions that were slowed down.´ I felt my lips beginning to tug downwards till I shook it off and nodded my head.

Quickly I hopped off the bed and began walking out the room with him, leaving my phone abandoned.

I kept my gloved hands behind my back as a silently followed the red-head into his room. Other than cleaning the bed, I put the gloves on because I knew I was going to touch his paintbrush today. ... It's not because I don't like him. It was just the thought of me touching his things with these hands.

These contaminated hands that match this tainted body.

As soon as I stepped inside his room my eyes widened in shock from the many paintings around his room. Although the room was covered in mostly paintings, it was still neat. A bed sat in the middle of the room with a giant window behind it revealing the sky. The floor didn't have carpet on it like the one it my room, but it had cherry-wood instead.

"You know, you're the first person I ever invited inside my room." He then pipped as he walked over to sit on the edge of his bed. I then took the initiative to sit in his desk-chair. "Let's not forget being the first one I talked to." His tire-some crimson eyes examined me right when he said so. Out of curiosity I cautiously asked, "Wh-Why me?"

It took him about a moment to respond, yet I allowed him to take as much time as he need. "Because we both have a problem that we can't fix by ourselves. I don't really talk to the other kids Miki adopted because they won't allow themselves to understand why things are the way they are towards me. Like how my body is slowed down by my lack of sleep." My eyes widened in shock from his response, and yet he continued. "I always felt as though my body being lethargic would bother people because I don't have enough energy to speak at normal speed. ... If it's alright with you, may we just talk?"

It took me a second to nod my head in approval.

"I came here when I was just seven years old. I honestly didn't have a choice because the day of my birthday was the day I became an orphan." My heart ceased from beating once that sentence was said. "My uncle who we thought came over to celebrate my birthday came in drunk with a gun. ... I remember feeling him put his cold hands over my eyes and hearing two loud shots. By the time he uncovered my eyes I saw my parents bodies on the floor with a growing puddle of blood leaking from their heads."

"The neighbor next door heard the gunshots and called the police. After they placed me here, I've been afraid to close my eyes. I was afraid that if I closed them, by the time I open them the people around me would be dead before me. I'm not saying all of this to make you feel sorry for me. I say this so you can know where I came from. ... When I came here I was lost towards everyone, and knowing how you're new I don't want the same thing to happen to you." `Wh-What?´ I gasped lightly to myself as I saw how serious he was.

"I-I honestly don't know what to say, Akaito. Except for that I'm sorry to hear about your parents and thank you for looking out for me." I then averted my eyes toward the floor. I couldn't really look him in the eyes. They told the truth far too much for me to handle. "There's no need to be sorry. It was a situation that couldn't be helped at the time, and all that matter now is moving forward to find a better solution other than those cheap pills that are `suppose´ to help me sleep." He then gave a deep chuckle.

Extending out his hand to me, he smiled. It was a small, yet gentle smile that made all the unknown guilt disintegrate. I didn't really know what to do till motioned has hand towards me again. So cautiously I brought my gloved hand over, letting him grab and hold it. "Wh-Why are you holding my hand?" I shyly questioned.

"Because with this hand shake, from now on I'll always have your back. Besides, I want to help you. Other than working through your Mysophobia, I want to teach you the other names of colors." He warmly responded. This had caused me tilt my head in confusion. "For example, red has many other names beside `Red´. There's Passion, Fire, Agony, Heat, and Love. Knowing the other name can help you paint better. It's the least I can do for my new friend."

I couldn't help but feel the corner of my lips curve upwards from his words. "O-Okay, Akaito-San."