Again, the sky was cloudy and ominous. Though the weatherman had forecasted sunny days for the week, it sure didn't look like it. Moreover, it was the middle of summer. Karma walked into the vacant schoolgrounds and scanned the area. Some of the teachers weren't even here yet. He was definitely the first student. Or that was what he thought.
When he walked down the corridors of the main building, going to his first class, he thought he felt a presence near him. Curiosity fuelled him to search for that unknown presence. It was faint but it was there. And it was definitely not a teacher. Karma casually walked into the school garden. Someone was here. And had been for sometime.
Karma widened his amber eyes and stared. "Sakusa-san?" He slowly approached the girl. She was just standing there, looking at the morning glories. The flowers were blooming, despite the gloomy atmosphere.
Her long raven hair fluttered in the wind and her slim figure looked as if it could tip over at any moment. But something told Karma, that the howling winds wouldn't knock her over so easily. There was some strange determination radiating from the girl.
Sakusa turned to look at the boy, her eyes wet from tears. "Did you really kill him?" Karma nodded.
In the roaring storm of wind, there was a quiet voice, and it echoed through the garden. "I killed someone once." Karma widened his eyes. His expression following the shock. "Maybe there had been some other way out, but at that time, I didn't see any. I hadn't eaten in days. And my brother, he had been gone for a few days - looking for food. My stomach felt like it was eating itself when I found the money on the floor. It was enough for weeks of food. Then there was another boy. He watched me as he neared the food. I wasn't the only one who wanted it. I found myself grabbing on to a piece of shattered glass that I always kept with me. And when he was close enough, I slit his throat. The boy... He made this weird strangled, gurgling sound before his eyes rolled to the back of his forehead and he fell over. My hands were covered in his blood. I didn't think - I just grabbed the money and ran. Then days after, I saw his corpse. It hadn't been cleaned away, but flowers had started growing around him. In the eyes of my seven year old self, it was scary. The blood around it... The image haunted me for days. And it still does. But worst of all, the fact that I'd killed him - that frightened me and it's still a nightmare."
Sakusa looked at him with tearful eyes, "Do you know how it really feels to kill someone in cold blood?" Hot drips of water rolled down her pale cheeks. "I don't think you do."
"You think I wanted to kill my teacher, Sakusa-san?" Karma looked at her intensely. "No. I had to kill my teacher, Sakusa." It was the first time he had used her name properly - without an honorific. "And sometimes, I feel myself regretting it. But, it was the only way. My teacher had been a test subject. The scientists turned him into a supernatural monster. And he was going to explode himself and the planet."
Sakusa was quiet.
"So don't spite me because I killed someone, Sakusa-san. Sometimes we just have to move on," he uttered quietly. He placed a hand on her shoulder gently, as if she was an ice statue in the middle of a hot afternoon. "Whether you move on or not is not my choosing. But I will be here for you." There was no movement for a moment, before Karma turned and walked away. His hands in his pocket. But unlike usual, they were warm.
In the hidden trees, there was figure. Silently, he moved away. No one saw him. And no one could've predicted what he would do next.
-3-
Horiki noticed Sakusa drifting into the classroom as she sat down. She knew that her group of followers would soon be heading this. Sighing, she got up and strode over to Sakusa's desk.
"You don't look alright. Something happen?" She pulled a chair over and sat down. "Want to tell me?" It wasn't just that she liked gossip, but Sakusa looked so down that she couldn't help but wonder why. The smaller girl's face were pale and her lips were white. Sakusa's glistening black eyes were wet with tears.
Sakusa laughed a little and wiped her tears away. "What are you talking about? I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
"You don't look fine," Horiki leaned in closer. "Is this about a boy?"
Sakusa snorted and gave a bark of laughter. "No, no, no! That's ridiculous!"
Horiki raised an eyebrow. She hadn't meant to make Sakusa laugh like that when she said that, but her laughter warmed her heart. Maybe it was alright. "Okay, if you say so," Horiki smiled then stood up and walked away. Sakusa wiped tears of joy out of her eyes. Joy can come unexpectedly, it seemed.
-3-
It was the end of the day and students were happily streaming out of schoolgrounds. It was the long weekend with a public holiday on Monday and Tuesday. People had been making plans for trips, catch-ups, karaoke, food, shopping. Students chattered about the latest band concert coming up that Sunday night. Karma had no interest as he strolled down the footpath. Normally he'd walk home with Sakusa, but she hadn't been at the gate like she usually would've been. After waiting ten minutes, Karma had walked away.
She must still be a little upset about this morning. He sighed. Girls.
-3-
Sakusa's nerves and her instincts were screaming to get out of the car, but there was no way. The real leather seat under her was soft, but unwelcoming. She wasn't meant to be here. Every instinct of hers told her that the situation was bad, but she had no idea how to turn it around. The driver in front of them showed no sign of stopping. Actually, he showed no sign of life other than the occasional movement of driving the car. Asano, sitting next to her smiled. But it was comforting to the least. He knew something, and Sakusa knew it.
They were driving further and further from the city and the surroundings had lesser and lesser buildings as they went. Sakusa didn't know where they were. It had been an hour. "Don't worry, Sakusa. We'll be there soon. It will be good for you. Stop fretting," Asano tried to comfort her and set her at ease. But it was working the opposite.
"Ah..." Sakusa tried to laugh it off, "Why are we going to, uh, such a place? So far from the city and the suburbs and every resident..." She trailed off. It seemed more and more like a kidnap. But it couldn't be. A teen couldn't kidnap a teen, right?
"The place is just kind of secluded," Asano replied vaguely, but gave no other explanation. Sakusa felt an unnerving shiver go down her spine. Just as she was about to say something, she felt a sharp needle penetrate her skin. She could feel a strange liquid travel down her veins. She realised too late that she'd been betrayed. Karma-kun, help! That was her last thought, and then she was out.