In Love With A Ghost
Kazuma wanted to get the picture and thank him for picking it up but Q-chan seemed fixated on it.
"May I ask where you got this picture and why it is in your possession?"
"I-" Kazuma wasn't sure what to say. He had to come up with something and quick. "Karin, she wanted to know more about the house's history and this family came up. We printed the picture and I forgot to give it to her." He was hoping he had been believable. Not that it was a complete lie anyway.
"Do you know about the family in the picture?" Kazuma asked.
Q-chan nodded. "Yes. Very well in fact. You see, that is me and my family in that picture."
"W-what?" Kazuma did not see that one coming. Q-chan tried handing back the picture but Kazume was too wrapped up in his own mind after finding out that bit of information. He snapped out of it when he heard Q-chan trying to get his attention.
"Are you alright Mr.-?"
"Kujyou. You can just call me Kazuma though." He responded.
Now Q-chan was in the for the bigger surprise when Kazuma mentioned his surname.
Taking the picture back, Kazuma put it in his pocket. He definitely had to talk to Karin about this. He wasn't sure what this piece of information meant, but it was quite the unexpected one.
Himeka came back from bringing in the glasses back to the kitchen. "It was really great seeing you again, Kazuma. I hope we can do this again soon."
Kazuma tried his best to return the smile. "Me too. I'll see you soon." With an awkward goodbye pat on the shoulder, he got his things and left. He walked right over to Karin's place.
Q-chan peeked through the window curtain and saw him go to the Hanazono's house. When he had mentioned his last name was Kujyou, it had a bit of a paralyzing effect on Q-chan. He knew what that name meant to Kirihiko.
He also knew there was nothing but trouble in the end of it all if Kirihiko were to find out about his daughter's friendship with that boy. Q-chan took in a deep breath and sighed. He went to go join Himeka in the kitchen. She was about to do the dishes. "Please, let me." He offered.
Taking away the sponge from her hands, he lathered it up with soap and started running the water. "Did you enjoy yourself today?" Q-chan asked. He handed her a plate to dry.
Himeka took it and with a small towel proceeded to dry it. "Yeah. I really did. I don't know how to describe it, but it was like something in me came together when I saw him. It was like finding a missing piece I didn't even know was missing."
Q-chan frowned. Knowing how she now feels is just going to complicate what's going to happen after he tells her. He couldn't help but hesitate.
"... I don't think you should see that young man anymore."
The dreamy smile Himeka had on her face had slowly faded, now leaving her confused. It made her drop a plate on the counter. The crashing sound it made, made her jump slightly. "Oh no." She quickly went to pick the pieces with her free hand, resulting in a cut. Himeka looked at her palm as the blood began to ooze out.
"Are you alright?" Q-chan quickly got a clean wash cloth and put it under the running water. He offered to place it on her hand after squeezing the excess water out. Himeka shook her head though.
"You're the most sane and smartest person I know, Q-chan. I've always valued your opinion, so why do you think I shouldn't see him? Did you see something in him I didn't? Did he do or say anything wrong?"
Q-chan hated seeing her upset. It was something he wasn't used to since Himeka is generally a cheerful person. The only other times he ever recalled seeing her upset was when Kirihiko would go on those long business trips when she was little.
It almost made him regret having had said anything. "It's just not in your best interest seeing that boy."
"I just want to understand why. Why can't I see him? He was a big part of my childhood. Hanging out with him made me feel like a kid again." Himeka smiled sadly.
Q-chan sighed. "There is bad blood between his family and yours. It would be wise not to mention this to your father." He left the kitchen soon after.
'Bad blood...?'Himeka couldn't help but wonder. Why would there be bad blood between Kazuma's family and hers? Does her father even remember that family? She was hesitant to confront her father after Q-chan's warning. She wondered what could have happened that would make her father dislike the Kujyou's.
Kazuma was in the living room with Karin. He had told her about the little encounter with Q-chan and the picture. Karin too was just as surprised.
"Karin, look. Don't you notice anything familiar about that girl..." Kazuma asked her.
Taking the picture Karin examined it closely. "Isn't that...?"
Kazune made his way downstairs when Karin didn't go back up. Even though he had agreed to go with whatever her plan was, he was still a bit skeptic on whether she really had found a way to bring him back. He was surprised to see his older brother there with her.
They looked as if they were having a deep conversation over what looked like to be a photo. He floated over towards Karin taking a seat next to her.
"What's going on?" He asked.
Karin looked at him.
When she looked over at the space next to her Kazuma had assumed it was because his younger brother was now with them in the living room.
"Kazune, do you recognize this girl?" Karin asked as she leaned the old photo closer for him to see.
Kazune looked at the photo and grimaced when he saw the girl in the photo.
Katharine...
"Why do you have a picture of Katharine?" He asked.
Karin gave a nod towards Kazuma, signaling that Kazune recognized her as well, just as they had.
"She was your imaginary friend wasn't she; The one who pushed you down the stairs..." It was more of a theory of Karin's, but she felt like she was on the right track.
Kazuma clenched his fists in a mixture of anger and anticipation. If Karin was right, then it was because of that little girl that he and his family have been in hell for so many years.
The moment Karin said that, Kazune's eyes widened. He was starting to remember.
It was all coming back to him in bits and pieces. Though it wasn't hard to connect the dots.
"She- she was my imaginary friend growing up. I couldn't really go out often because I was so weak. She made me weak... They could never really figure out what was truly wrong with me. She did it... She was making me sick so I wouldn't be able to leave the house, to stay with her..." Kazune began.
Karin covered her mouth in pure shock. Micchi had told her that Kazune was a frail and sick kid, but she never would have guessed it was actually all Katharine's doing.
Kazuma wanted to know what Kazune was telling her. It seemed big given her reaction.
"She came to me one afternoon wanting to play..."
13 Years Ago...
Suzuka was in the kitchen with Kazune. They were discussing his little imaginary friend.
"I don't want to hear anymore about this imaginary friend of yours, Kazune. She isn't real. You can't keep blaming things on her and I'm not going to excuse this kind of behavior either. You could have really hurt your baby sister!" She got down on her knees and rested her hands on his little shoulders.
"I know it's hard having to stay in doors all the time, and I know you might want attention some of the time, but I promise daddy is working really hard to make you better. Now repeat after me, Katharine doesn't exist." She said.
Kazune pouted. He hated that his mother didn't believe him. "But mom!"
"Kazune!" She snapped.
He winced at the loud tone of her voice. Slumping his shoulders in defeat he repeated what his mother told him to. "Katharine doesn't exist..."
Suzuka got up. "Good. Now go and play with Kazuma and Micchi." She got a broom and pan to sweep up the shards of glass that were in the living room.
Kazune marched his way upstairs to his room. He was upset that his mom would think he would push a vase onto the floor near where his baby sister was crawling to potentially hurt her.
He went to his room unsure of what else to do.
That's when he heard his door slowly creaking open then close shut rather forcefully. BAM!
It made Kazune jump as he turned around to see Katharine there. He frowned at her before turning his back to her as he folded his arms.
"You really got me in trouble this time... I don't want to talk to you. Mommy says you're not real." He said.
Katharine walked up to him so she was now standing in front of him. "She can't see me like you can because she doesn't believe. But you do." She said with a smile.
Kazune turned away from her again, closing his eyes and covering his ears to ignore her. "Go away! You almost hurt Kazusa I don't like you anymore!"
Kazuma's room was right across from Kazune's. He could hear his younger brother yelling. He rolled his eyes. "You go ahead, Micchi. I'll go outside after I check on Peter Pan." That was the nickname Kazune was given because of the imaginary friend only he could communicate with. Just how only Peter could communicate with Tinker Bell.
Micchi chuckled. "Alright. See you in the backyard." He went down with a few toys in hand.
Katharine shook her head slowly. "No..." She whispered. "No.. No... NO!" Her eyes turned white as she descended off of the ground. Toys and other items were beginning to fly around in Kazune's room rather violently. Some even breaking with the impact of hitting the wall.
Frightened, Kazune ran to his door and turned the knob to get out, but it wouldn't budge. He turned to Katharine who was still midair.
"You're not leaving me!" She screeched.
Kazune turned his focus back to the door. "Help! Help me!" He started banging on the door hoping someone would hear him and break the door down.
Kazuma went up to Kazune's door. "What's he doing?" He took hold of the knob and turned it slowly.
The second that door opened Kazune clumsily ran out, tripping on his feet causing him to fall. He rolled over and fumbled to drag himself backwards.
"Are you okay?" Kazuma could see the look of sheer terror in his eyes. Kazuma further opened the door and took a look inside his room. "Woah! It looks like a tornado passed by here! Oooh, you're gonna get in big trouble!" He teased.
"Ka- Katherine... She won't leave me alone. She did that to my room! I think she wants to hurt me." Kazune stuttered, still shook up by what happened just moments ago.
Kazuma sighed. "You have to stop with this Katharine stuff. You're 4 years old, you're too old to have an imaginary friend, Kazune." He said as helped his brother up. "Come outside with me. Micchi is there waiting for me. We can play together for a bit then we'll all come up and Micchi and I will help you clean your room."
He walked with Kazune to the staircase. "Okay?" When Kazune didn't respond Kazuma gave him a pat on the back to reassure him. He then went back down the hall to close Kazune's bedroom door.
"She's real, Kazuma. And she really wants to hurt me..."
"Oh stop it alrea-" Kazuma heard his younger brother scream. He turned around to see him being thrown down the stairs.
"Kazune!"
End of Chapter. 20
Writing the flashback has been my favorite part of this story and finally explaining what happened to Kazune.