Wonder Panda Tan-Tan and I pitched this idea while we were role-playing and I hope this is a good one.
Chapter 11: Hidden Fear
Another year has passed by and I'm just contemplating on some changes in me. Like for some reason, my voice started to get a little deeper, I'm getting a little taller and things like that. It kinda hit me that it's obviously puberty and I wasn't sure how to deal with this, but hopefully, things will get better soon. As of right now, I just need to at least try to enjoy being 12 years old.
'Wonder how Ichi's doing.' I thought to myself.
For some reason, Ichi's been kinda avoiding me a little since he became 13 and I figured that maybe puberty might have a reason for it, but when I came into our room, I saw him sitting on my bed, just feeling depressed and withdrawn and I wanted to see if something's bothering him, so I walked in, I asked him, "Hey, Ich. You okay?"
"I'm fine. I just need to stay in bed today, okay?" Ichi said.
I tilted my head in confusion by that statement he just said and I asked, "Why? Are you like...sick or something?"
Ichi lets out a heavy sigh and replied, "No, Musaki. I'm not sick. I don't really feel like talking about it, so just please leave me alone."
Right away I knew from there that when Ichi says he doesn't wanna talk about it, something's bothering him. And I did not want to let it stay hidden for as long as he wants. I took a deep breath and said, "Ich, I've known you for 2 years now and I know something's bothering you. You may not think I know, but I already do. And I'm not leaving until I know what's up with you."
Ichi stayed silent throughout and he could kinda tell that I was willing to stay longer until he tells me what's the deal and then I said, "Don't shut me out, Ich. Just tell me."
"You wanna know? Fine, I tell you. I'm 13 years old and I'm just afraid that my powers wouldn't be controlled because the more I grew older, I would end up killing people every single day." Ichi explained.
I stayed silent for a second after hearing this and I was in disbelief that it could happen and I said, "No you won't."
Ichi quickly turned to me, apparently angry at me that I said it and he shouted, "How would you even know?! You don't know that!"
"No, I don't, but I know you won't! You said so yourself!" I shouted, as well.
I could see that he's still reeling in the fact that it's about his fire power and Ichi then said, "I'm scared of the fact that it's gotten stronger...so much so that I may never control it."
He knew how serious it would be and I asked, "How stronger are we saying?"
"To a point where I can no longer control myself and that one day...I may explode and everyone would be killed because of me." Ichi said, worriedly.
"Ich..."
Ichi sighed heavily and said, "Listen to me, Musaki...I'm too dangerous to even be around you and you could be my victim."
That apparently set me off and I was angry and fearful for Ichi that he would legitimately kill people and I said, "That's not gonna happen. Just because you'll get older doesn't mean that you'll hurt anyone."
Ichi pounded his fist on the ground and he grew infuriated with me and shouted, "You don't understand! I could kill you this easily and I do not want that! Nor do I want to kill everyone else! It'd be like recreating the same thing I did to my parents when I was four! I'm just a monster! Don't you get it! I'm a freakin' killing monster!"
That was enough and I immediately got close to him and shouted, "SNAP OUT OF IT! You are not a monster! And you will not kill anyone!"
"GET AWAY!" Ichi screamed at me and then waves a hand and hits me in the face very hard and I fell down to the ground.
I groaned in pain as I felt like my head was pounded by a ton of bricks and I looked up at him and asked, "Why'd you do that to me?!"
Then, I saw the pure look in Ichi's face...he looked completely horrified that he did this to me and he quickly said, "Saki! I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry!"
He then ran out of the room and I knew he was afraid, but not like this. I groaned as I got myself up and went after him to see if he's all right.
"Ichi! Ichi, wait up!" I exclaimed.
I searched high and low for Ichi and I was definitely worried for him because I wasn't sure if he ran away or killed himself, in which the latter part really freaked me out the most because he's my best friend and I was hoping he didn't do that. Suddenly, I heard someone crying from an abandoned house across the back of the orphanage and as I got closer, I knew it was Ichi.
I opened the door and when Ichi saw me, he backed away from me as if I was gonna hurt him, but I really wasn't going to. I caught my breath and said, "It's okay, Ichi. I'm here."
"I-I'm so sorry, Musaki! I didn't know what to do! I...I...I was just scared...I don't know what came over me!" Ichi pleaded.
It just broke my heart to see him like this and I got even closer to him and I said, "Ich, I'm not mad at you. I'm just worried, that's all. But why'd you do that to me?"
"I don't know why I did what I did. I didn't mean to hurt you...I'm sorry, Musaki. I'm really, really, really, really, really sorry." Ichi said, in between tears.
"Ich, it's okay. I forgive you."
Ichi looked at me confusedly and asked, "B-But why? Why would you forgive me after what I did to you?"
"I forgive you for everything. You're still my best friend and nothing's gonna change that. But you can't always solve your problems by running away or covering it up. Both of those will make you feel worse and it'll hurt you."
Ichi released a few tears coming out of his eyes and he knew that I was right. He knew that running away wouldn't solve anything and he said, "I really am sorry, Musaki. I really..."
I went over to him and just gave him a big hug and Ichi cried on my shoulder. I felt a few of his tears coming down on my fur, but I didn't care. I wanted to be there for Ichi and that's more important to me than anything.
"Would you still be friends with a monster?" Ichi asked, sniffling.
"I'd still be friends with you, period...no matter what." I said.
That part seemed to comfort him a lot and it really helped him and he just kept on crying and he whispered, "Thank you...and I'm so sorry."
Musaki would still be there for Ichi...regardless of his demonic side. Got more on the way!
