Stray Dog

Chapter Two: "Don't Go"

By Dejiko Mew Mew

I don't know why... but I found myself clinging to him... and unable to let go.

"Fuery...?" Havoc-shoui questioned, nervousness echoing in his voice. Now what had I done? ... And why were tears streaming down my face? I looked into his eyes then and found my fingers clutching his jacket tightly.

"I-- I'm sorry," the part of me retaining any common sense managed to say. "Could you... Would you... stay with me?"

This would be the end, I knew. The end of everything before anything had even started... Or so I thought.

My eyes widened as Shoui's hand ruffled my hair. He smiled wide and laughed.

"Can't be helped, right?" he assured me. "I totally owe you, and I always pay back my debts," he added with a wink. Needless to say, I felt that dizzy feeling yet again.

And so, I let him inside and offered him some tea. He began to glare at me, which I had supposed to mean that he was not a "tea person."

"Where's your bed?" he interrogated fiercely... I nearly fell to the ground in shock.

"Th-- The bed?" I squeaked out. I shook out my head and attempted to remain calm, though my face was as red as the flame in his cigarette.

I opened the door to my bedroom and pointed to the bed before us with a trembling finger. Before I knew it, I was thrown to the bed and the covers were pulled across my body.

"Where do you keep your tea... stuff...?" he asked next.

"I... In the cupboards..." I replied quietly. "... Why do you--"

"You rest. I'll handle everything," he winked yet again with that wide, lovable smile.

I hid my face underneath the blanket and murmured a "thank you." At the time, it was the best that I could achieve. I was really... surprised at the progression of events.

I felt really... special then. I had been taking care of myself for so long... it was just a miracle to be watched over-- a blessing, really. I didn't care if it was only to "pay me back."

It was about a half-hour later that I began to worry. The dorm had fallen silent. Tea... should have been more than prepared. I began to wonder if Havoc-shoui had left. Maybe... Maybe he thought I had fallen asleep... I had been rather quiet. A wave of emptiness rushed through me yet again and the warmth I felt only moments ago was now very much extinguished. I probably... creeped him out or something... It was my fault. I shouldn't have asked him to stay in the first place...

My thoughts were disrupted and I let out a gasp as I heard noises yet again from the next room. Several, loud noises in fact, and they continued to become more frequent and increasingly louder. I was a bit... frightened, but I could only assume-- and pray-- that Havoc-shoui had returned.

It must have been another half-hour before there was a knock on my bedroom door. I cleared my throat and hid under the covers once more.

"C-Come in..." I announced. Havoc-shoui entered the room with a grin... and a tray of sorts. My body thrust forward as I sat up in my bed, my mouth gaping.

"Sh-Sh-Shoui!" I cried. "A-Are you all right?"

His clothes... and hair seemed a bit singed, and his skin reflected harm from burns and cuts. Some places were tended with band-aids. Havoc-shoui laughed nervously as he set the tray upon my bed, scratching the back of his head with his free hand.

"I'm fine," he bowed. "Just... had a little trouble... with the soup." He lifted the lid to the bowl that sat upon the tray. A slightly-burnt aroma rose from the slightly-blackened soup.

"I didn't... have any soup here..." I marveled.

"I noticed," Havoc smirked. "They say soup helps you get better, so I went out and bought some... Ah... Although... Mine will probably make you feel worse... I shouldn't have bothered! I'll understand if you don't want to eat it!"

"It's fine," I laughed. It was amusing-- and rare-- to catch Havoc in a worried state. I wondered if I looked so funny when I was worried... "I like things slightly-burnt," I told him and took a sip of the soup... Although... perhaps soup was not one of those things...

"You're a lot braver than I gave you credit for," Havoc nodded, rustling my hair once again.

"Ah...! Ahh..." was all I uttered. I forced down another sip of soup. After all... he had gone through such trouble to prepare it... just for...

No good, no good...! I told myself. People say I take things too seriously... I felt myself wanting to cry just then... because I was so happy. Maybe I was taking it so, but... it really was... that special for me. I was really happy.

But I couldn't let him know that. I was happy to be getting to know Havoc-shoui like this. I didn't want to scare him off in any way...

"Where did you get the band-aids?" I asked, keeping normal conversation open. "I... think I ran out of them..."

"Well... I knew I'd be cooking, so... I prepared." He boasted a pack of freshly-bought band-aids.

"You're weird," I laughed, placing a hand over my mouth in hopes of stifling it. I stopped. My eyes widened and I looked back at him with fear. "Ah...! I didn't mean...!"

"Relax," Havoc sighed, patting my shoulder. "Really, you worry too much."

"I... can't help it..." I replied softly. I don't know why I did, what need I felt to involve Havoc-shoui with my problems. "I'm so afraid... of doing something wrong... of..." I looked at him. I half-expected him to still be smiling, but he looked back at me with serious eyes and definite concern.

"Of...?" he asked... Did he really want to know? I swallowed hard.

"Of being left... alone..." I finished. My heart began pounding and I shut my eyes to fight the tears. They couldn't come now. I wouldn't let them. I had to show Havoc-shoui that I was strong-- that I wasn't the weak little baby of the group that everyone had to watch closely or I'd screw up. I had to show him that I wasn't only trouble-- I wasn't just an inconvenience...

But I couldn't... Because I am. I am an inconvenience; I am the baby; I am... weak.

I lowered my head and turned away from him, as the tears had begun to flow. Damnit... Damnit! I thought then. I was so much more trouble than I was worth, and Havoc-shoui was bound to notice it now, if he hadn't already.

But he just placed a firm hand upon mine and looked directly through my eyes, staring into the very depths of my soul, and swore, "I won't leave you alone... I promise."

To Be Continued Again!