Chapter 5

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SakuraHana Hotel, Room A12

…::…

Kiley hated waiting. He never had a lot of patience to life. Now that his patience was being tested, he fidgeted and fidgeted inside the dark, horribly dank closet. It smelled of old, faded perfume and there was at least an inch-worth of grime settled on the floor. His eyebrows drew in a scowl and he listened intently.

The door of the room swung open and the force of the wind that was created slammed the closet door shut. He very slightly tried the doorknob – it wasn't locked! Well, that's a relief. He felt around blindly and found that someone had broken off the thick steel pipe rail on which clothes were to hang, and the metal rail was leaned against the wall. He grasped it – it might come in handy.

The man's voice was threatening: " Do I have to tie you up? Stay quiet."

Momo's voice replied, wavering slightly: " You'll be so sorry for this! My boyfriend Toji will bash your brains out!"

" Where is he, then?" The man teased. " And how will you find me?"

She spit at him and he recoiled, then there was the sound of a slap.

That bastard! Kiley readied to jump out, the pipe in his hand. Just then, he thought to himself: Let's get a name from him first. He waited impatiently as the man began to undo his belt buckle. His pants fell to the floor and out poked a wallet. Momo was shuffling around, trying to back up against a wall and get into a crouch position to minimize her body.

The man cursed again at her and made obscene comments.

Kiley took this moment of chaos to reach out of the closet and grab the wallet. In the thin sliver of light that shone through the crack of the open closet door, he flipped the wallet open and focused his attention to the picture. The man was ugly – obviously a drinker, with a dry, sullen face and cracked lips. Kiley's eyes focused on the blurred letters of his name, and then memorized the last name first, then the first name.

Suddenly, he shouted at the top of his lungs: " Let's go!"

He burst out the closet door, slamming the man in the back. The man spun around, nostrils flaring. " How the hell did you get in here?" He shouted into Kiley's face.

" Room service." Kiley's hand – with the metal pipe – upwards. There was a horrible smacking sound, a burst of blood, and the man fell to the floor. He rolled around moaning. " You broke my nose, you bastard! You broke my nose!"

" Good." Kiley murmured.

The man glanced at the pool of blood beneath his face and then passed out of the sheer shock.

" Hasta la vista, baby." Kiley grinned and then looked up and saw Momo, kneeling on the floor, her fingers pressed into her eyes. She was trembling as she whispered: " Toji?"

Kiley almost felt his heart stop, then he scolded himself. Who's she gonna ask for? Toji's the first man in line when it comes to her brain waves. Yet, his stomach slumped down in a painful knot. I pity my existence.

Toji was just emerging from the bathroom after getting tangled in the shower curtain. He glanced at Kiley with an embarrassed smile and then walked up to Momo, kneeling down beside her. " Hey, Momo. It's alright, everything's' fine now." He looked up at Kiley and added: " Dial the police."

Kiley couldn't help but give him an obscene gesture with his fingers as he picked up the handle of the phone and dialed quickly. The police notified him that they will be at the building immediately. Afterwards, everything was a blur or people, police sirens, and cop interviews.

They actually arrested him, though, since Toji finally admitted that Kiley landed all the blows. Someone said that even though Kiley was defending Momo, the conflict badly injured the rapist. Kiley just shrugged as they pinned the metal handcuffs around his wrists. As he was getting into the police car, he looked up at Momo and gave her a smile. " I'm glad you're okay." He murmured.

She began to cry. " Thank you."

Toji walked up to her, putting his arm around her. Momo pressed her face into his chest, wetting it with her tears. Toji put his chin on her head and then smiled happily. Kiley looked away and focused his attention in at the cop. " This is just routine, son. You'll be out by tomorrow - we just need to question you a bit. It's sort of late, we'll have to call the Chief Officer in from home."

Kiley shrugged.

The cop grinned. " That was a lucky blow though, kid, but you'd have murder on your hands if it went a bit lower. You'd have snapped his neck right in two. Then you'd probably serve some time anyway – self-defense or not. The rapist was a rich guy – his family sued victims before."

Kiley looked at his fingers. The handcuffs were pressing deep white ridges into his skin. He nodded slowly.

" Who is she? Girlfriend?" The cop asked, steering the car out of the parked position.

Kiley raised his eyebrows and wondered if it would be fun to pretend Momo was his girlfriend. Instead, he replied: " No. That blonde guy is her boyfriend."

" The clumsy one?" The cop's laughter echoed through the little car as they sped down towards the station. " You're really the hero here. Maybe she'll reconsider where her priorities are and give you a try. Hell, you deserve it, kid. That was a lucky save." The cop grinned at him from the car mirror. " One in a million."

The metal pressed harder into his wrist. Maybe it'll draw blood. That would look really manly, my hands all bloody, as they drag me into the station. Kiley could imagine it – just like a boxer leaving the boxing ring. He remembered watching some old boxing matches on the television back home. The coach would throw a towel around the winner's shoulders and then pour cold water on their face. I could use some cold water now, Kiley realized, as he felt his face burn in a blush.

…::…

Police Station

…::…

" Oh, Kiley!" Yu exclaimed, seeing his worn face as he sat in the old visitor's lounge. Some guy a bit older then him, his eyes red from doing drugs, was sitting beside Kiley, breathing toxins into Kiley's face. He grimaced and stood, leaving the cloud of pollution around the man.

" Hey." He said and hugged her. " Got a little side-tracked."

She poked his chest. " Who do you think you are? Rambo? Running around knocking men out!" Yu's eyes were blood-shot. " I couldn't sleep all night when the police called me. It was against the law to tell me what sort of trouble you ran into, but…" She waggled her finger at him. " … knowing the sort of boy you are, I thought the worst."

" Did you see Momo?" Kiley asked.

" Your crush?" Yu asked, bluntly.

The room seemed to grow a deathly, buzzing silence, even though Kiley realized he was probably just imagining it. " Yeah, that's her." He murmured.

" She came with that nice boy – Toji, is it? – they were so polite. I didn't know you had any friends other then that group of fan girls. Which reminds me! At least forty girls called last night! The phone was ringing off the hook, and the land lord had to come up to our apartment and demand that I unhook it from the line!" Yu was laughing now, which meant her anger passed.

" What did Momo say?" Kiley asked.

" Really, as if I'd remember." Yu scolded. " I was too busy trying to wrestle away from the battalion of girls that were calling." She turned to the officer. " Can I take him home now? He had such a rough night, I bet."

" Go ahead. This time, I think the rapist won't even bother pressing any charges. Three strikes, you're out." The officer smiled wanly.

Kiley nodded. " See ya." He exited first, and Yu followed.

…::…

Okayasu Apartment

…::…

Kiley flipped the television on. Some channel was showing his picture and then Momo's. His heroic rescue had made headline news that morning. There was obviously nothing going on in their small town, because everywhere he turned, someone was talking about it. As if I'm some sort of hero, he thought, bitterly.

He looked up at the wall of his bedroom, where another photo rang. In it, he could see all of them – Yu, Kiley, his mother, his father, and his brother. He glared at his brother's face. " I hate you." He whispered to the photo. " I hate having the same last name as you!"

He leaned backwards and his back sunk into the cheap mattress. He cursed and then sat back up, frowning. " I don't need all this attention." He paced his room. " Guess I can pick up some cute chicks now that they all think I'm some big defender." He made a macho pose into the mirror. Then, he took his glasses from the back pocket and put them on.

Kiley turned around, examining himself. " Nerd by day, superhero by night." He pulled them off again, pushed them in the little case, and threw it onto his desk.

Now how will I deal with my new stardom?

Just then, the phone rang. Yu's voice caught his ear: " Kiley! Get your butt in here! It's Momo!"

…::…

A/n: I just read book five… I don't think I'll incorporate any spoilers though…