Chapter 17
Kaname indeed talked to the followers on Monday morning even after I had threatened to bite him again. He didn't listen and went to talk to them. The girls were excited when they were around Kaname. I watched as their expressions changed to one of great excitement and happiness to one of bewilderment and shock. I wondered what he was saying to them. Kisa and Hino were with me when we spotted Kaname talking to the girls. My two best friends giggled and I looked at them with a curious expression.
"He's probably talking to them about your relationship with him. Oh look, here he comes." Hino whispered to me. I turned around and sure enough, Kaname was walking over to us. Hino and Kisa giggled and left waving.
"Guys!" I called. I sighed. Kaname came up next to me and without warning; he wrapped his arms around me pulling me toward him. I heard gasps from behind him, "probably the girls watching us." I thought. I pushed him back.
"What are you doing?" I gasped. He smiled. I told the girls to leave you alone and when they wanted a reason why, I told them that we were going out." He replied. My jaw fell open and he chuckled. I took his wrist and pulled him through the hallways, to the roof where no one would know what we were talking about.
"We can't, Kaname. I can't go out with you." I said. Kaname looked puzzled.
"Doshite (Why)?" He asked.
"Because of what I am. You're in danger if we're together." I pointed out. He nodded.
"But, you're one of my best friends and I only like you, Karin." When he said this, I blushed pink. I was annoyed at myself that I like Kaname back, but I couldn't really be with him. I shook my head.
"Please Kaname. It would hurt me if I ever bit you again. Last time was an accident, but what about next time. No. I can't go out with you." I turned to walk away. But Kaname walked over in five steps and hugged me from behind.
"I really like you, Karin. You know what type of person I am. I want to be with you and protect you." He said to me. I looked away from him. I shook my head.
"I'm sorry, I can't. I don't want to hurt you. Please, for both our sakes, go out with another girl." I untangled his arms and walked back into the school and made my way to my classroom. Kisa and Hino were waiting for me, but I didn't want to see them yet. I went to the bathroom instead to compose myself. I sat against the wall, hugging my knees to my chest and I let loose. Tears flowed down my face. I sat in the bathroom until the last minute. Moving slowly, I washed my face and went to class. Hino and Kisa were worried once they had caught a glimpse of my face. They instantly pulled from class and told Nikiado-sensei that they were taking me to the nurse. Michelle-sensei understood as soon as she had seen my face also. She closed off two wards for us and set us to the end of the room so no one could hear us talking.
"Okay. What happened?" they asked as soon as we were alone.
"K-Kaname…. Likes me. He asked me out but I can't." I explained. Tears filled my eyes again.
"Why?" Kisa asked, patting my back.
"I-I don't know." I finished lamely. Hino handed me a tissue and I wiped my eyes and nose. "I like him, but I'm scared kind of…" I stammered.
"Of what?" Kisa asked gently.
"Of hurting Kaname. He likes me so much, but I… can't be with him." I gasped. Sobs wracked my body and Kisa and Hino both hugged me tightly. We stayed in the nurse's office until it was the middle of second period. "Liking Kaname really hurts." I thought. Michelle wanted to send me home and so did Kisa and Hino, but I argued that I should stay at school. In the end my caring friends won and I went home to shut myself up in my room. Kyo came home and fixed dinner. He had already guessed my condition and brought it to my door. He knocked and went in. I was on the bed, hugging my pillow and leaning against the wall.
"How are you?" He asked. I shook my head. "Here's dinner. You should eat something." He said still standing there. I nodded. Kyo sighed and then sat next to me on the bed. He leaned over and hugged me tightly.
"I knew Kaname was so stupid. He doesn't listen to reason does he? I should talk to him sometime and knock some sense into his stupid brain." Kyo murmured. I put a hand on his arm to stop him. He looked at me from the corner of his eye.
"No. It's my fault getting so involved with him in the first place. Don't blame him. He was just acting on his emotions. It was my entire fault." I said. My voice was just a whisper. Kyo looked at me for a while.
"Oh, Karin. You're too nice. You take all of the blame for others and carry their weight until you give out. Alright. I'll listen to you as much as I don't want to, but if he makes you cry one more time, I'll have to talk to him then. Eat now. I'm going to run an errand really fast, so take your time and leave your dishes at the door. I'll get them later. Night." Kyo squeezed me once then released me and started to leave, but then stopped at my door and turned back around.
"Why can't you be selfish just for one time, and Let you do what you feel is msot comfortable for you. Do what you want just one time, and no one will blame you for your selfish decision." That was all he said and he left. I heard the door open then shut behind him. I hugged myself tighter and laid down on my pillow. I was too tired to eat anything. What Kyo said felt a little unsual to me, since it was from him, but it felt nice to hear him say something so caring just once in a while. I just wanted to sleep, and get away from everything. I heard the doorbell ring and I ignored it. Then the door opened. Kyo couldn't be back already, could he? I waited for the intruder to open my door. When it did, I crawled to the corner of my bed. A blonde head poked in my room. The lights came on and I squinted my eyes from the sudden brightness. When I opened then wider and realized that it was Momiji that was in front of me, I ran and hugged him. Momiji hugged me back and chuckled.
"What's wrong Karin? You don't look well. Did something happen? Akito again?" he asked. I shook my head. Momiji led me back to the bed and I explained to him about Kaname, leaving out some details so I wouldn't worry my younger friend. Momiji listened quietly until I had finished. Then he hugged me again and stroked my head.
"I'm sorry that you're going through a hard time. I want to make you feel happy now. Can we do something fun? What do you want to do?" he asked. I smiled to myself that Momiji was so hyper and positive all the time.
"Let's go to the dojo. I want to blow off some stem. You want to do gymnastics again? Let's do a routine together to show Kyo when he comes back. Okay?" I suggested. Momiji nodded eagerly. We went to the dojo and set up the mats. Momiji and I stood side by side and started at the same time, flipping and twirling however we felt like doing. I bounced off the wall and flipped several front flips before twirling three times and doing a cartwheel at the end. Momiji flipped backwards and forwards twice, did two cartwheels and twirled twice at the end. We sat on the mats afterward and steadied our breathing. We did two more routines before settling on a mix of all three for a show later. I told Momiji that I could invite my two friends over and we could have a small picnic at the park and then show them the performance sometime. I didn't tell him a direct date and I knew Momiji noticed but didn't say anything. The afternoon had passed quickly with Momiji's energy and my new distraction. Before I knew it, the sun was setting and the moon had risen a few feet into the sky. He left after getting a bottle of water. I went to the living room and read a magazine while I waited for Kyo to come home from his errand. I looked at the time. It read ten thirty-four. I decided to wait for him until it was ten fifty, then I would go outside. When the time came, Kyo still wasn't home. Leaving a note, in case he came back, I put on my jacket and ran outside. I checked at the park, the nearby store and around the edge of the city. It was almost eleven forty-five by the time I got back to the park by home. I sat on the swings, breathing in the clear air when I heard foot steps. I turned around, thinking it was Kyo, but I didn't believe who I was looking at. A person who I hadn't seen for sometime.