(The Path)

Gym had been hell. When I got there with no change of clothes, I had to explain what happened. How exactly was I supposed to tell my teacher I had a klepto ghost on my tail, with a kink for my used clothing? Honestly. I couldn't explain it if I tried. Heck, I had questions about a lot of that. Was he really a ghost? If he was, shouldn't he have stuck to the path? Were there more ghosts I didn't know about? What if he wasn't a ghost?

The last question stuck in my mind the most. The way he acted, he somehow didn't seem like a ghost, ghost. But then, the question still remained... What was he?

At least he'd given me something to work with, when I tried to explain to the gym teacher why I didn't have my gym clothes. I held up the smashed lock to my locker and raised an eyebrow, even as I recalled my brief explanation to my teacher. "Someone broke into my locker and stole my clothes." Well, if it wasn't for the lock, I would have laughed myself. As it was, I was sent to the office and given an after school detension. It could have been explained off as someone's horrible idea of a joke, in stealing my clothes to get me into trouble, and that someone could have broken my lock with a metal baseball bat, or something, but Mr. Hammond wasn't having any of it.

He was so certain I'd done it myself, and was lying to cover my backside.

Like I said, I couldn't lie to save my life, which you'd think he would have picked up on in the months I'd been going to classes there. Sue me for trying to be somewhat honest. It didn't help my gym teacher seemed to have it in for me.

So here I am, a cold, dark afternoon and I'm walking along the path. I'm still holding the smashed lock, and wondering if I should just keep a second backpack on me at all times, with my gym clothes or any jackets I chose not to wear. Nah, I had a feeling even if I did, he'd just steal the whole backpack off me the next time he wanted something. I wasn't so much afraid anymore, as I was annoyed. I mean, why did I have to be the one to get the ghost with the most unusual kink I'd ever heard of?

A shiver hit me unexpectedly, both from the cold, and the fact that I felt like I was being watched. Ever since my first meeting with him, maybe I was just keeping my eyes and ears out, but I felt like I'd become more sensitive to his presence. I usually seemed to know when I was being followed, or watched, and usually could tell if it was him, or if I needed to worry. Then again, the growls and snarls helped me to identify when he was in a bad mood, too.

I stopped where I was and looked around the forest, listening to the birds chirping and the wind blowing through the trees. There was a snap of a branch high up in one of the trees, and I listened as it fell, clattering against other branches and ripping through the leaves, before hitting the ground with a dull thud. While I was still nervous, I had a bone to pick with Mr. Ghost. "My gym clothes?" I looked around, frowning as I pulled the jacket tighter around my frame. "Ok, I didn't understand your fascination with my jacket, but my gym clothes? Used gym clothes at that?" I mean, ew!

There was a sound that almost seemed to resembled a choked off laugh, and it only fueled my irritation into something surprisingly close to anger. I had to close my eyes tightly to keep the resulting tears at bay. If there was one thing I hated, it was that my temper seemed to have direct connections to my tear ducts.

He stole my gym clothes, which is embarrassing enough, but now he's laughing at me? I felt humiliated and angry. He seemed to care enough to give me his jacket -which I thought was his, anyways- after stealing mine, and then he laughs at me when I try to complain about him stealing my gym clothes? What a jerk! My hand tingled with the urge to hit something. I wasn't normally a violent person, but I was filled to the brim with humiliation, rage, frustration, confusion, and still a hint of fear. I just didn't know what to do.

I hated being basically helpless against lord knows whatever he was, but I really began to wonder if there was anything I could say to make him stop stealing my clothes.

I took a moment to breathe deeply before opening my eyes and staring in the direction the sound had come from. "Oh, sure. It's funny, is it? I mean, I've got a klepto on my tail with a sick fetish for my used clothing. What could you possibly want with my clothing, anyways? Are you just mental, or something?" It wasn't like he could wear my stuff. I hoped. Ok, eew! There's an image I didn't need. Shuddering, I refocused, trying to shake off the mental image I just got. "And my picture with my mom? I want that back, you know!"

I knew he was out there. I could feel him watching me. As my hand tightened around the smashed lock I held, I felt a fresh bout of nervousness hit me. He did that. He took this solid metal lock and somehow crushed it. He never seemed to carry anything with him. Had he done it with his bare hands? The idea was terrifying. What if he had? He was capable of doing far worse to me, if I upset him.

A low growl reached me ears, and I gasped sharply when I realized it was right behind me. An icy breath ghosted across the back of my neck, and I eyed the trail in front of me, wondering if I could get away, should I make a run for it.

It was impossible. Even as I tried to force my legs to move, I felt as if I was suddenly paralysed.

The presence was both hot and cold against my back. I could feel the coldness coming off him, but I also felt hot as the material of whatever he was wearing brushed against the backs of my hand. I felt icy fingers trail down my throat, pausing over my pulse points, where he could probably feel my heart clammoring against my chest. They flexed slightly, digging slightly into my skin, before moving to the front of my throat. Then he rested his hand, cupped around my throat and only putting the slightest pressure against it.

My breathing caught, and I once again began to fear for my life. All it would take was for him to squeeze, and I wouldn't be able to breathe. My body shook in fear, and I heard my raspy breathing as I swallowed nervously, feeling my throat pressing more against the hard flesh. His hand flexed again, and there was a low, shaky growl. He tightened his grip, but I felt him shaking, and after a moment, he pulled away.

"You couldn't possibly understand." His voice was cold, low, musical and hypnotic. It was as beautiful as his face, and it suited him. "It's keeping you alive." The last part was added in a softer voice, though it was highly strained, as if being this close to me was difficult for him, for some reason. Once again, there was this light feeling of icy fingers against my throat, pressing just enough to push my head to the side, baring more of my throat.

I was starting to get light headed, as my breathing kept coming in shallow gasps that didn't seem to do anything to sustain me. I couldn't even think of fighting his hold on me. Closing my eyes, I felt something soft tickle my chin and something else cold pressed against the pulse point. A low rumble sounded, I'm not sure if it was a growl or a groan, but the puffs of cold air told me it was his face against my neck. I felt him breathe in and freeze, his hand tangling in my hair for a split second before releasing me abruptly and pulling away.

There was another breeze, and I felt the presence behind me disappear.

Only then did I feel free to move. I gasped harshly for breath, even as my lungs ached and my heart raced uncomfortably. Looking around, I saw there was no one else on the trail, and I frowned. What was that, just now? He'd breathed against me, but something chased him off. I shivered a little, feeling strangely cold. Now that he seemed to be gone, I didn't know how to feel. I was still somewhat frightened, but also felt... Well, I didn't know how I felt. It was honestly confusing.

Shaking my head, I sighed. Back on topic, I guess. "How is stealing my clothing keeping me alive?" More importantly, was he planning on stealing my whole wardrobe?

I took a moment before shaking myself out of my uncomfortable state, I turned and began walking. I was more than aware that he was still out there, watching me. I would hear the occasional rustle of leaves, or a snap of a twig, following me at the same pace as I walked. Not to mention, more than once I heard birds go silent as we passed by, as though suddenly afraid for their own lives. Strangely enough, after thinking on this encounter, I found myself fearing him less. He made himself sound so dangerous, but he'd done little to harm me, other than spraining my wrist when he stole my jacket.

Certainly, I had no idea what he wanted, or what he meant. Honestly? He sounded a little...unhinged, but he hadn't hurt me. He seemed to be...almost...trying to protect me? I mean, stealing my clothing and picture kept me alive? It was...freaky, but he basically told me he was doing it to help me...in some odd way. I didn't understand. No, I was so lost, I doubted I'd ever understand.

Why would a ghost care about me? Was he even a ghost? I mean, he seemed far too solid for an undead spirit.

Either way, I hurried home, pausing at the edge of the trail to look behind me. Frowning to myself, I voiced the one question that kept running through my mind. "Why do you even care?" Without waiting to see if he'd grace me with a response, I turned and hurried into the house.

Hope you like it.

R+R please

Thank you.

Tenshi