Shadu: We're back ladies and gents! If you're wondering who mystery man is, you're about to find out. Enjoy.
Hokage: I'm so happy.
Ish: Iforgot,who'sthemysteryman?
Shadu & Hokage: ::slaps forehead::
Ch. 3
Zentar
I got home that night without any more problems. When I got home, I just went to my room and laid on the bed, thinking about what happened today.
What had happened today? Why did that guy help me? And why couldn't I get him out of my head. I couldn't stop thinking about him. I kept seeing the pain in his eyes. He hurt, but it wasn't just from his wound. There was something else there. Something else pained him. I wished I knew what it was, but more importantly, I wished I could help him.
I visited Joey regularly over the next couple of days, but I never saw that guy. I wondered what happened to him. He had a bad wound, and I know it's stupid, but I was worried about him. He did, after all, save my life. And the fact that I didn't see him really made me worry. However, I would get my answer as to what happened to my rescuer very soon.
It had been a total of five days since I had seen the person I had dubbed Mystery Man. I was walking along a safe street in the west side (believe it or not) going to Joey's house when my foot hit something and I nearly tripped. I heard a groan and I saw something move out of the corner of my eye.
I saw black.
My heart leapt. I wondered if it could be Mystery Man. But when I looked around, I didn't see anyone. I looked down the alleyway, and yet there was still no trace of him. Then, I saw a large box that had been turned onto its side, opening facing the walkway. There appeared to be something inside it. I bent down to look inside.
Now, understand that this box was HUGE. It must've been a refrigerator box or something like that. I mean, I've never seen a box this big. Maybe that's how he fit in there.
When I looked inside, I saw black. It was a familiar black. It was Mystery Man. I had found him!
"Hey, hey, fella, wake up," I called to him as I shook his leg, trying to control my excitement.
My excitement faded when he didn't respond. I saw that he had removed his coat and draped it over himself to use like a blanket. His sword was still on his black belt as well. He looked as though he were sleeping, but he never responded. He just lay there, almost as if he were dead. Terror surged through my body at the thought of this. He couldn't be dead. I hoped he wasn't dead. Then, I knew he couldn't possibly be dead because he moved his leg when I tripped over it. That gave me some hope, but not much. He was still unresponsive. Finding no other solution, I grabbed his legs and proceeded to pull him out of the box. I didn't realize that he was lying on his right shoulder, so when I began to drag him, he cried out in pain. I let go immediately. With great effort, I watched as he pulled himself into a sitting position. He sat there, holding his injured shoulder, teeth clenched and eyelids shut tightly. I could hear his teeth gritting together due to the pain. It was a little bit before he opened his eyes to look at me.
"What are you doing here?" he growled through the soreness. "I thought I told you to go home."
"I did, you told me that five days ago," I answered.
I watched as his eyes widen.
"F-five days ago," he stammered.
"Yeah," I nodded.
I was really worried now. That wound must have been worse than I thought.
"May I look at you shoulder?" I asked carefully.
He eyed me skeptically. My spirits plummeted even further. For some reason, I felt as though I was put here on purpose to help him. However, if he doesn't even let me look at his wound how can I help? I decided to try again.
"Please? I won't hurt you," I promised with a smile.
His hand didn't budge, though. Instead, it tightened its grip. I had no idea why he was being so protective, especially since I was willing to help him. Suddenly, a thought hit me. I slipped off my backpack and unzipped it. He watched me with curiosity. I pulled out my lunch sack and looked inside to see if I had anything left over from lunch. I was in luck. I had a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich leftover. I took it out and offered it to him. He shied away and looked at me with wariness.
"It's not poisoned, I promise, you can have it, it's yours, take it," I told him.
I knew he was hungry, he almost had to be. If he were as hungry as I thought he was, he would take the sandwich. Sure enough, he slowly reached out a hand and then quickly snatched the sandwich away from me. I snickered a little at the sight.
He removed his hand on the shoulder that was injured, just like I thought he would. He unwrapped the sandwich and began to eat it, though I think he might've eaten the plastic if I hadn't been there.
"So, what's your name?" I asked as he finished the sandwich.
"Zentar," he replied as he swallowed the last bit of the food.
"Zentar? That's a funny name," I replied as I crumpled my nose playfully at him.
"My parents were funny people," he stated. "So, what's your name, while we're on the subject."
"Serenity," I replied happily.
"Serenity huh? That's a nice name," Zentar told me.
"Oh, by the way, I never got to thank you," I said when I thought of it all of a sudden.
"For what?" Zentar asked, puzzled.
"Saving me from that gun and those bullies," I told him as if it were obvious.
"Oh, it was nothing," Zentar shrugged, and then winced in pain.
That alerted me to his shoulder once again. I was right; he did have a hole in it. It looked like a bullet wound. That's when it hit me. He jumped in the way of the bullet for me. He really did risk his life for me. He could've been hit some place else, but he wasn't. And then, the dealt with the other bullies. I wanted to reach up and touch his shoulder, take out the bullet, heal the wound that I caused, but I couldn't.
"You, you were shot," I stammered looking at his face.
"It's just a scratch," he groaned.
"Zentar, I can see the bullet," I stated bluntly, and it was true, I could see the brass colored back of the bullet.
"Well, there's nothing you can do," he countered.
"I can take you to my mom, she's a doctor, she can help," I replied.
His eyes narrowed to little slits at this. I got the distinct feeling that I had done something wrong, but I didn't know what.
"Why would I want to go to her?" Zentar snarled.
"To help your shoulder," I replied.
"My shoulder's doing fine on its own," Zentar answered quickly.
"Would you let me help you, here?" I questioned.
Zentar just gave me an icy glare, but said no more. I took that as a yes. I was pleased. I could help the man who had helped me.
"I'm going to see my brother, I'll be back tomorrow, alright?" I said as I stood up to walk away.
Zentar again remained silent. I took one last look inside his box. I could see a red spot on the bottom. I'm positive it was blood. I could see where the fibers of the box had soaked up the red substance. It looked like he had lost a lot of blood. I couldn't forget to ask mother about what to do.
I walked away from Zentar and continued my journey to Joey's. I froze, though, when I saw bullies. They were coming for me with pipes and knives. I ran, but they chased after me. They chased me into a corner, into an alley. I shook as I pressed myself up against the wall behind me. I pleaded to see black again. I cried out to see the darkest of all colors. It didn't come. The bullies came and started to attack me with their various weapons. And just when I thought it was over, I saw black.
Shadu: Sigh, another chapter written.
Ish: Ithoughtyouwouldbehappy.
Shadu: Gotcha! I am happy.
Hokage: Shadu would be even happier if you bowed down and said, "Yes my Monoashi."
Ish: Getreal.
Shadu: well, since that won't even happen, I'll settle for reviews instead.
