Closure: Chapter 4

What did I get myself into?

When Barnaby told me his plan, I thought I would die.

"If you really want to help Sky High, you're going to have to learn some method acting."

"Huh?" Was all I managed to get out.

"What Bunny means, Ivan, is that the only way to get Keith some closure is by slowly making Cis leave his side. As a living human, not as an android that he ended with his own hands."

"But Cis is gone…" What could they possibly be planning?

Barnaby took another step towards me "That's where you come in, Origami."

Realization slowly started to seep into my thought process. "Oh…" were they seriously asking me to… "NO. No….no…" I was shaking my head furiously.

When I stopped, Tiger and Barnaby were both looking straight at me. They were dead serious. "It's the only way his heart can be at peace." Tiger paused for a second, trying to coax a response out of me.

When I said nothing, he continued. "We both talked about it and figure this is the best solution."

"If you shape-shift into Cis and meet Sky High at the park, we can come up with some lie about her moving away and get this girl out of his life in a non-scarring way."

Was this really the only way? I suppose if it's just one meeting and it would make Keith normal again…

"I guess that might work…" I swallowed before giving my answer. "I'll do it." Tiger smiled, "Could the both of you help me get the right form?"

Barnaby handed me a handwritten list. "This is a list of Cis's physical and habitual traits I compiled. This should be everything you need to be the right form when you shape shift." He then handed me the picture that was with the file. "Start with this and we'll work on it."

"All right." Making sure the doors were locked before starting, and quickly studying the picture before trying, I transformed to the best of my abilities.

"She's a little thinner." I transformed again.

"She's taller than that." Again.

"Ivan, you're still too short." Again.

"Her nose isn't that big." Again.

"Her lips are fuller." Again.

And again, and again, and again.

After what seemed like forever, Barnaby handed me a cassette player. "This is a sample of the voice program used for Cis. Listen to it and you'll physically be a perfect Cis."

I nodded. "Okay. Thank you, Barnaby."

Tiger handed me a pair of headphones. "I'll go with you and help if you need it. Meet me at the park in an hour. Don't be late."

Don't be late he says. It's been two hours since we were supposed to meet here. Where is he?

I was so lost in thought that I didn't even notice the presence of a man with his dog.

"It's you…" The voice startled me and I whipped my head around.

Oh shit. There he was. Him and the adorable surprised face he was wearing.

"I thought I'd never see you again."

What do I do? What do I say?

He rushed to sit next to me, and my gaze immediately fell to the floor. "It's been weeks. Have you been well?"

"I-I-I'm okay, I guess…" Damn it! Speak clearly. "How about you?"

"I'm happy and I'm happy again!" He pat his golden retriever on the head and made him sit. "John doesn't seem as jumpy around you as he used to be." He turned towards me and smiled weakly.

Don't feign happiness. Stop lying. "Why are you lying to me?" Crap. That was out loud.

At first he looked confused. "About John?"

I just stared at him. "About your happiness."

His expression changed into a defeated one and he let out a sigh. "I guess you found me out." He scratched the back of his head.

"What's wrong?" I asked honestly.

His face flushed a red color. "Well, umm, you see…"

Oh yeah. Keith loved this person I was pretending to be. I had to tell him that Cis was moving away. "Ke-"

"I-I just missed you so much. I couldn't focus and I really just wanted to thank you properly for helping me through the rough time I was having. I really needed encouragement and although I have good friends, they're just as busy as I am. You helped me get back to the way I was and I wanted to let you know that I am indebted to you forever and ever again."

Wow. What was I supposed to say now? 'That's nice but I'm leaving and never coming back?'

"That's alright. All I did was listen." Right? That's all they did right? Please don't correct that.

"Even so, it was comforting knowing there was always someone to listen to my problems."

A sigh of relief escaped my lips. "There are more people than you think who are willing to listen."

"But you're special." After realizing what he said, we both blushed and looked away from each other.

Keith, why do you have to be so straightforward? If this girl were normal, she would have run away from you a long time ago.

"Haha, I'm sorry. I tend to be really straightforward and don't really think about what I say." He smiled.

That smile. The one that makes every cloud in the sky disappear.

"It's fine!" I smiled and cocked my head. Be cute, I reminded myself.

After a little bit of small talk, he couldn't stop expressing his happiness and gratitude.

The strange thin is how much I welcomed it. I knew I wasn't Cis. If I were, I would have basically leapt into this man's arms by now. Wait what? What was I saying? Oh God, It's happening again. Not again. I said I would never-

"Hey, are you okay? I snapped out of it and met Keith's gaze.

My body flew to its feet. "I-I have to go." Before I knew it I was running away.

After I traveled a few feet, a strong hand grabbed my wrist. "Please wait. I really missed you. If you disappeared again, I don't know what I would do."

"Keith… I-"

He honestly looked confused for a second. "You know my name?"

"Uh, yes. You told me once and I took it upon myself to learn it."

"I did?" He began blushing a little bit again. "Umm, well, I don't know yours yet."

"Iv- I mean, I'm Cis. I can't believe I haven't told you my name yet, how silly of me!" I hate acting like a girl…

"Please. Could you come back tomorrow?"

"I can't, Keith I really have to-"

His happiness was slowly fading back to its original state of depression. His eyes were beginning to look tired again. "Please." His sky blue gaze was piercing through my coherent thoughts.

"Okay."

After that, he wished me a good night and offered to walk me home. With a quick refusal, we parted ways. Once he was out of my line of sight, I transformed back into Ivan. The guy that Keith has never paid much attention to since I joined Hero TV.

Tiger made himself known from behind a portable toilet unit. "Hey! What are you doing? You can't meet him tomorrow! You were supposed to break it off with him just now!"

"I'm sorry, Kotetsu-san. He was finally happy again. I couldn't just say no to him!" After a short pause I remembered that the man was supposed to meet me here a good two hours before Keith showed up. "And what the hell were you doing at five anyways? You were supposed to tell me what to say to him!"

"Ah! Sorry about that….well, I'll think of another one and give it to you tomorrow in the locker room."

"That should be fine. Just don't forget again, please."

And with that, we said goodbye and went off towards our respective destinations.