Well, it seems that everyone either felt sorry for Kiseki or wanted to kick Kaiba's butt xD but no one seemed to notice the fact that Unishiwa had Kiseki's address even though he told Seto himself that teachers weren't allowed to have any more than their numbers! Oh well =] I was happy for the reviews you guys gave! Here's the next chapter; 'tis rather long, and there is a small section in the middle that I wrote while I was in a VERY weird mood, so you all are forewarned. You'll pick it out rather easily I think. Have fun!
Shock. Kiseki felt nothing else as she walked down the street with a fast pace, her hand clenching her bag so hard that her knuckles turned bone white.
Her mother had hit her. Nothing could compare to the turmoil she was feeling inside herself. She and her mother had had their share of fights, but never had she… The girl shook her head again and again to try to drive away the thought, but it still remained; her cheek still stung as though someone kept driving a red-hot poker into it. She didn't know where she was going, nor did she care, as long as her mother was far behind. She could feel a new feeling breeding in her chest as she kept thinking about it.
Hate.
As she walked on, she raised a hand to gingerly prod at her cheek before throwing it back down angrily, her teeth gritting. Mama could never accept me for what I was… She thinks she knows the pain I went through… if she knew anything she wouldn't have told whoever it was about me… She closed her eyes as her anger started to rise. Why did she hit me? She was being stupid! I had every right to scream at her! When word spreads, I'll get hurt again! And it will be all her fault! Part of her thoughts turned to fear for a brief moment. Whoever it was will tell everyone… it'll reach someone terrible… I might get—
Her thoughts were rudely interrupted when she ran into someone on the street rather hard, nearly knocking him over. She stumbled and came to a halt, nearly yelping out in surprise as she saw Unishiwa turn around, a fresh cup of coffee now spilt on the front of his shirt.
"S-sensei!" she stuttered out. "I'm—I'm so sorry!" She hastily bowed to him. "I wasn't watching where I was going!"
Unishiwa blinked and his brow furrowed as she stood up to apologise again, revealing how flushed her face was, as well as her darkened cheek. "Kiseki!" He cut her off, raising a hand and almost putting it on her cheek before drawing it back. "Did something happen after I left?"
She froze, her mouth slightly open. "…a-after you…left?" Her eyes went wide. "You were the one who was—I—I have to go!" She made to push past him, but he reached out and got a hold of her arm.
"Kiseki, please!" he said urgently. "Don't feel embarrassed—"
"I'm not! Let me go!" she pleaded, trying to pull out of his grip.
"If you're worried about me finding out, don't be," he said, lowering his voice to a normal level, trying to keep her calm. "I don't mind it at all, Kiseki; I have several good friends who are that way. Do you hear?"
She turned her face to him; it was now pale again, making the mark on her cheek stand out more prominently. Her lips opened and closed a few times as she stared at him. "…No one has… ever said that to me before…" she said after a few moments. Her worried expression came over her again and she in turn got a hold of the front of his shirt, some of the coffee dripping out as she grasped the fabric. "Please, Sensei, don't tell anybody about it… I… I don't want anyone else to find out… please…." Her eyes begged him in a way he had never seen before, though the words by themselves were enough to convince him; they were so laced with fear that he instinctively put his hand over hers and squeezed it gently.
"I swear I will not," he said, giving her a reassuring smile. "I said you could trust me as someone you could talk to when you were in trouble and I meant it."
She suddenly threw herself into his arms; he nearly stumbled back, but he wrapped his arms about her and held her close to him to calm her shaking. "C'mon… let's get you back to school," he whispered, ushering her gently down the street. She nodded and sniffed loudly; they walked towards the school, the people around them looking on with bemused expressions on their faces for a few moments before going on with their lives.
Her mother had hit her. Nothing could compare to the turmoil she was feeling inside herself. She and her mother had had their share of fights, but never had she… The girl shook her head again and again to try to drive away the thought, but it still remained; her cheek still stung as though someone kept driving a red-hot poker into it. She didn't know where she was going, nor did she care, as long as her mother was far behind. She could feel a new feeling breeding in her chest as she kept thinking about it.
Hate.
As she walked on, she raised a hand to gingerly prod at her cheek before throwing it back down angrily, her teeth gritting. Mama could never accept me for what I was… She thinks she knows the pain I went through… if she knew anything she wouldn't have told whoever it was about me… She closed her eyes as her anger started to rise. Why did she hit me? She was being stupid! I had every right to scream at her! When word spreads, I'll get hurt again! And it will be all her fault! Part of her thoughts turned to fear for a brief moment. Whoever it was will tell everyone… it'll reach someone terrible… I might get—
Her thoughts were rudely interrupted when she ran into someone on the street rather hard, nearly knocking him over. She stumbled and came to a halt, nearly yelping out in surprise as she saw Unishiwa turn around, a fresh cup of coffee now spilt on the front of his shirt.
"S-sensei!" she stuttered out. "I'm—I'm so sorry!" She hastily bowed to him. "I wasn't watching where I was going!"
Unishiwa blinked and his brow furrowed as she stood up to apologise again, revealing how flushed her face was, as well as her darkened cheek. "Kiseki!" He cut her off, raising a hand and almost putting it on her cheek before drawing it back. "Did something happen after I left?"
She froze, her mouth slightly open. "…a-after you…left?" Her eyes went wide. "You were the one who was—I—I have to go!" She made to push past him, but he reached out and got a hold of her arm.
"Kiseki, please!" he said urgently. "Don't feel embarrassed—"
"I'm not! Let me go!" she pleaded, trying to pull out of his grip.
"If you're worried about me finding out, don't be," he said, lowering his voice to a normal level, trying to keep her calm. "I don't mind it at all, Kiseki; I have several good friends who are that way. Do you hear?"
She turned her face to him; it was now pale again, making the mark on her cheek stand out more prominently. Her lips opened and closed a few times as she stared at him. "…No one has… ever said that to me before…" she said after a few moments. Her worried expression came over her again and she in turn got a hold of the front of his shirt, some of the coffee dripping out as she grasped the fabric. "Please, Sensei, don't tell anybody about it… I… I don't want anyone else to find out… please…." Her eyes begged him in a way he had never seen before, though the words by themselves were enough to convince him; they were so laced with fear that he instinctively put his hand over hers and squeezed it gently.
"I swear I will not," he said, giving her a reassuring smile. "I said you could trust me as someone you could talk to when you were in trouble and I meant it."
She suddenly threw herself into his arms; he nearly stumbled back, but he wrapped his arms about her and held her close to him to calm her shaking. "C'mon… let's get you back to school," he whispered, ushering her gently down the street. She nodded and sniffed loudly; they walked towards the school, the people around them looking on with bemused expressions on their faces for a few moments before going on with their lives.
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Kiseki could barely focus on her work for the few classes she had left, especially in the first after lunch, seeing as how Seto was in it. She had to keep herself from shredding her papers to bits in her nervousness, but she reminded herself that she'd be seeing Unishiwa after school and felt slightly calmer. Unishiwa... As the teacher went on about history, she started to think to herself.
He seems like a genuine person… but… why did I believe him when he found me? The teacher handed them all worksheets and then sat down behind her desk to start working. Kiseki picked up her pencil and quietly tapped it upon the paper as everyone started writing. I don't trust anyone… what's so different about the sensei? He said that I could talk to him when I needed to just like the others did, but… something tells me that he really means it… he did say that he has some friends like that after all. Still… She frowned, her pencil stopping in its movement. I don't know why I acted like that when I ran into him… I've never accepted someone's assurance that fast…
She kept thinking about it, not once working on her paper, and when the bell rang she stood up to go to her science classroom. Taking a quick glance back, she saw Kaiba busy typing on his laptop as he usually was. As she made her way to the next period, she had thought of the answer to her self-questioning.
Because I was vulnerable.
Kiseki could barely focus on her work for the few classes she had left, especially in the first after lunch, seeing as how Seto was in it. She had to keep herself from shredding her papers to bits in her nervousness, but she reminded herself that she'd be seeing Unishiwa after school and felt slightly calmer. Unishiwa... As the teacher went on about history, she started to think to herself.
He seems like a genuine person… but… why did I believe him when he found me? The teacher handed them all worksheets and then sat down behind her desk to start working. Kiseki picked up her pencil and quietly tapped it upon the paper as everyone started writing. I don't trust anyone… what's so different about the sensei? He said that I could talk to him when I needed to just like the others did, but… something tells me that he really means it… he did say that he has some friends like that after all. Still… She frowned, her pencil stopping in its movement. I don't know why I acted like that when I ran into him… I've never accepted someone's assurance that fast…
She kept thinking about it, not once working on her paper, and when the bell rang she stood up to go to her science classroom. Taking a quick glance back, she saw Kaiba busy typing on his laptop as he usually was. As she made her way to the next period, she had thought of the answer to her self-questioning.
Because I was vulnerable.
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When Kiseki left, Seto closed his laptop and stood up to move to his next class in the computer lab. He had seen the mark upon Kiseki's face and had been thinking about where it could have come from throughout the whole class period. Deciding he could just find out from her directly after school, he sat down at his computer and signed in. He knew that today, like all other days, they'd be doing simple activities that were like walking to him. He usually got the assignment done less than halfway through the period and would spend the rest of the time doing something within his interest level, and today he chose hacking. Not just any hacking, however.
He was going to hack into the school files.
The teacher was one that didn't take heed of what the students were doing as long as they did their assignments on time, so as he sat as his desk and graded papers, Seto was free to do whatever he pleased. Not five minutes after he had opened up the computer's main hard drive, he had cracked the password into the student files and typed in "Akai Kiseki".
His eyes narrowed as he read her profile, and he took out a disc from his briefcase, sticking it into the computer. Dragging the file onto the disc, he saved it and the computer ejected it once it was done. Pocketing it, he read it through on the monitor a few times. Halfway through the third time, he stopped.
What am I doing? he thought suddenly to himself.
As the clicking of keyboards went on, he did not move or think as that question resonated in his head. Why the hell do I need this information to get a card from her? This has her description, her birthdate, her origin… He raised a slender finger and ran it down the screen as he looked over the information. United States of America… He sat back, remembering how he had once tried to learn some English when he was younger, only to drop it, deciding it was a completely screwed up language. Shaking his head, he closed the profile and drew out the disc in his pocket, staring at it.
Why do I need this?
I don't. Though somehow, he couldn't throw it away. He just stared at it for the longest time, telling himself that there was a trash can inches away from his workstation, but he did not make any movement to it. He knew not how much time had passed as he sat there, but when the bell rang out at the end of the period, it scared him half to death. He remembered that he had planned to meet Kiseki as she was coming out of her class, as he now knew where it was, and quickly stood up, cursing at himself for wasting time.
As he walked towards her classroom, his mind went to focus upon getting the card from her. This time… this time she would give it to him. He pocketed whatever it was that was in his hand as he reached the door and stood by it, waiting for her. She came out after everyone else, and he drew back to conceal himself in the horde of students as she passed. He noticed that she looked somewhat relieved and smirked. That look wouldn't be lasting long.
He followed her out of the building from a distance, but before she could go to the next one, he caught up with her and came up by her side. As he brushed up against her arm, she let out a startled yelp and he inconspicuously bumped her out of the swarm of students and tugged her behind a wall, out of sight. He once again had her by the arm in a surprisingly strong grip and glared down at her as she looked up at him, grimacing slightly.
"Have you changed you mind yet, kohai?" he hissed at her, putting his briefcase down with a loud clunk.
"Kaiba—please, you're hurting me," she practically whimpered, trying to maneuver her arm away from him, but he merely tightened his grip and pulled her closer to him.
"You didn't answer my question. Have you changed your mind?" he repeated sternly.
Tears began to surface in her eyes and she looked away from him, biting her tongue to keep from crying out. "…I—I don't have it with me…" she barely whispered.
"Liar."
"I don't!" she said a little louder, turning back to him, a few tears falling form her eyes. "It's at home on my easel!"
"Oh, so you're an artist?" he sneered.
"I –I paint..." She was starting to get angry as she lost feeling in her fingers and flexed them slightly, only bringing a sharp tingle up her arm. "Will you let me go?" she cried.
He smirked and clenched his hand so tight that she yelled out in pain. "No." He leaned toward her and whispered in her ear, his hot breath making her shiver. "I decided not to tell anyone about your little secret…but… if you don't bring that card tomorrow…"
Before he could finish his threat, Kiseki could not bear the pain any more and brought her other hand up to try to pry his off her arm. He froze. Her hand was so warm and soft… His hand faltered in its grip, which gave her the opportunity to wrench him off her and shove a hand into his chest to knock him back as she ran away form him. He stumbled back mainly out of surprise, but he watched as she ran across the now empty grounds and out the gate, slightly infuriated that he had lost his ground so easily.
Kiseki ran on, to where she did not know, her meeting with Unishiwa forgotten.
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A short while after, she was in the museum of the town, panting and clutching her bag to herself again. Glancing behind her, she walked into the building, taking a somewhat relaxed sigh as the air conditioning blew over her. Making her way through, she followed the signs to the Egyptian exhibit and her face brightened considerably when she walked in on it.
There was gold everywhere, lighting the room seemingly with its own light. As she made hey way around the glass cases, she had to keep herself from pressing her nose onto the smooth protector to get a better look at everything. She was so content and relieved to be somewhere she loved that she left all her worries behind her on the front step of the museum, and busied herself with taking in all that she possibly could of the most amazing things she had ever seen. Moving from case to case, she couldn't help but smile at the wonderful craftsmanship that was presented, and paused when she came to a mummy.
It was laid out upon a slab of concrete; all of the belongings that had been buried with it were separated form it, including its sarcophagus. She narrowed her eyes at the incompetence of the diggers and put a hand on the case of the mummy, the other going to the case of its golden coffin. Closing her eyes slightly, she wondered what she was doing, but somehow she felt she wanted to… like she wanted to reconnect the being with its place of sanctity. Things like this should have been left in the ground, she thought, opening her eyes up again. We make graveyards for people to rest in peace forever; how would we like it if people in the future dug up our ancestors and put them out for all to see? It's despicable. At least leave the person in their place…
Feeling awkward and slightly angered, she decided to leave. Had she not come upon the mummy, she would have stayed there for the entire afternoon, but something about it made her want to leave. Once she got outside, she started walking again; her mind kept thinking about what it would be like to be separated from something that was supposed to be with you forever. She didn't want to dwell on it, but in a way she didn't want to stop. Her subconscious drove her in circles as she arrived at the same questions over and over again, not getting anywhere. All she could say for sure was that the person should have stayed where it was and not taken out of where it should have been.
She stopped on the street as she realised with a start that she had been heading home. Shaking her head, the mummy was driven out of her mind as all her worries caught up with her again. Turning back, she saw the little park that was down the street from her house and decided to sit and think for a while. Dropping her bag beside her, she sat and leaned her back against a tree, settling herself down. She checked her watch and saw that it was still only about 4:30, which gave her plenty of time to calm herself down. Turning her eyes to the sky in front and above her, they unfocused as her thoughts began to swim about, drowning out all other noises and distractions around her.
A short while after, she was in the museum of the town, panting and clutching her bag to herself again. Glancing behind her, she walked into the building, taking a somewhat relaxed sigh as the air conditioning blew over her. Making her way through, she followed the signs to the Egyptian exhibit and her face brightened considerably when she walked in on it.
There was gold everywhere, lighting the room seemingly with its own light. As she made hey way around the glass cases, she had to keep herself from pressing her nose onto the smooth protector to get a better look at everything. She was so content and relieved to be somewhere she loved that she left all her worries behind her on the front step of the museum, and busied herself with taking in all that she possibly could of the most amazing things she had ever seen. Moving from case to case, she couldn't help but smile at the wonderful craftsmanship that was presented, and paused when she came to a mummy.
It was laid out upon a slab of concrete; all of the belongings that had been buried with it were separated form it, including its sarcophagus. She narrowed her eyes at the incompetence of the diggers and put a hand on the case of the mummy, the other going to the case of its golden coffin. Closing her eyes slightly, she wondered what she was doing, but somehow she felt she wanted to… like she wanted to reconnect the being with its place of sanctity. Things like this should have been left in the ground, she thought, opening her eyes up again. We make graveyards for people to rest in peace forever; how would we like it if people in the future dug up our ancestors and put them out for all to see? It's despicable. At least leave the person in their place…
Feeling awkward and slightly angered, she decided to leave. Had she not come upon the mummy, she would have stayed there for the entire afternoon, but something about it made her want to leave. Once she got outside, she started walking again; her mind kept thinking about what it would be like to be separated from something that was supposed to be with you forever. She didn't want to dwell on it, but in a way she didn't want to stop. Her subconscious drove her in circles as she arrived at the same questions over and over again, not getting anywhere. All she could say for sure was that the person should have stayed where it was and not taken out of where it should have been.
She stopped on the street as she realised with a start that she had been heading home. Shaking her head, the mummy was driven out of her mind as all her worries caught up with her again. Turning back, she saw the little park that was down the street from her house and decided to sit and think for a while. Dropping her bag beside her, she sat and leaned her back against a tree, settling herself down. She checked her watch and saw that it was still only about 4:30, which gave her plenty of time to calm herself down. Turning her eyes to the sky in front and above her, they unfocused as her thoughts began to swim about, drowning out all other noises and distractions around her.
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(A.N.-- this is the weird part; get ready!)
Seto had gone home after confronting Kiseki, deciding on the way there that he would go to her house and get the card himself. As he started to change into his elaborate outfit, he heard something clatter to the floor. Turning around, he saw the disc with Kiseki's profile on it and picked it up, wondering how it had found its way into his pocket again. Again he stood, knowing he didn't need it, but then he told himself that he'd need it to find her house, so he sat at the desk in his room and pushed it into his laptop. As the screen flickered on, he crossed his legs and tapped his fingers on the mahogany desk, feeling impatient. Though he only had his pants on at this point, he didn't think about it as the computer whirred and clicked away. Once it had started up, he opened up the file and read it over, inputting her address into a navigation system. The directions flowed out, the dark lines extending themselves across the screen and the light projecting onto his face. Memorizing the way, he closed the program and took to reading her information again.
He paused on her date of birth and frowned as his mind began to calculate. She's turning a year older in two days… 1988… she'll be turning 16 in two days… He typed that in next to her name, and went on to read some more. He didn't think about why, he just felt like it. His mind once again lost track of time, and his eyes trailed onto her picture. She wasn't smiling. Her eyes looked saddened, but they were so deep and blue, he got lost in them.
He found himself back on the school grounds; he had Kiseki by the arm again. But she was looking up at him with something other than fear in her eyes… it was… it was something like… warmth. He even noticed as a small smile formed upon her lips, and she put a hand on his cheek, making his eyes go wide. What was he doing here? Why wasn't she trembling from his cold gaze? Why was she even trying to look happy? His thoughts were brought to a halt as she gently pulled him toward her and pressed her lips softly against his, her hand going behind his head to run through his hair. His eyes were still open as she stopped moving as though someone had pressed pause, not drawing back nor going any further. He couldn't begin to comprehend the rush of feelings and emotions her touch brought to the surface, but he remained as well, unsure as to what the hell he was doing, just sitting there and letting her kiss him.
His head dropped and suddenly he was back in his bedroom. He had drifted off with his cheek resting upon his hand and he blinked a few times to reinstate himself in his own body and pushed his chair back and away from the desk. Once he was fully awake, he became dimly aware of a warm sensation and looked down at himself. For only a second he thought furiously that he had somehow wet himself, then realising what it really was; he cursed and stood up to change into another pair of pants.
(A.N.-- this is the weird part; get ready!)
Seto had gone home after confronting Kiseki, deciding on the way there that he would go to her house and get the card himself. As he started to change into his elaborate outfit, he heard something clatter to the floor. Turning around, he saw the disc with Kiseki's profile on it and picked it up, wondering how it had found its way into his pocket again. Again he stood, knowing he didn't need it, but then he told himself that he'd need it to find her house, so he sat at the desk in his room and pushed it into his laptop. As the screen flickered on, he crossed his legs and tapped his fingers on the mahogany desk, feeling impatient. Though he only had his pants on at this point, he didn't think about it as the computer whirred and clicked away. Once it had started up, he opened up the file and read it over, inputting her address into a navigation system. The directions flowed out, the dark lines extending themselves across the screen and the light projecting onto his face. Memorizing the way, he closed the program and took to reading her information again.
He paused on her date of birth and frowned as his mind began to calculate. She's turning a year older in two days… 1988… she'll be turning 16 in two days… He typed that in next to her name, and went on to read some more. He didn't think about why, he just felt like it. His mind once again lost track of time, and his eyes trailed onto her picture. She wasn't smiling. Her eyes looked saddened, but they were so deep and blue, he got lost in them.
He found himself back on the school grounds; he had Kiseki by the arm again. But she was looking up at him with something other than fear in her eyes… it was… it was something like… warmth. He even noticed as a small smile formed upon her lips, and she put a hand on his cheek, making his eyes go wide. What was he doing here? Why wasn't she trembling from his cold gaze? Why was she even trying to look happy? His thoughts were brought to a halt as she gently pulled him toward her and pressed her lips softly against his, her hand going behind his head to run through his hair. His eyes were still open as she stopped moving as though someone had pressed pause, not drawing back nor going any further. He couldn't begin to comprehend the rush of feelings and emotions her touch brought to the surface, but he remained as well, unsure as to what the hell he was doing, just sitting there and letting her kiss him.
His head dropped and suddenly he was back in his bedroom. He had drifted off with his cheek resting upon his hand and he blinked a few times to reinstate himself in his own body and pushed his chair back and away from the desk. Once he was fully awake, he became dimly aware of a warm sensation and looked down at himself. For only a second he thought furiously that he had somehow wet himself, then realising what it really was; he cursed and stood up to change into another pair of pants.
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"Kiseki?"
I am Kiseki… I don't want to be… don't call me that…
"Kiseki…"
Leave me be… I don't want to talk to anyone… I want to be alone…
"Hey, Kiseki."
She jumped as someone put their hand on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Unishiwa.
"I was just on my way to your house to see if everything was ok; you didn't show up for our meeting after school," he said, concern apparent in his eyes.
Reality flooded back to her like a sharp blow to the head. "Oh… I'm sorry sensei… I forgot about it…"
"It's quite alright, I was just worried that something else had happened to you." He knelt down so that he could be somewhat at eye level with her. "I thought you might be at home."
She shook her head. "I wouldn't be at home…" she murmured.
"Oh? Why not?" he asked.
"I don't want to talk about it." She put her head on her knees, curling up slightly.
He paused, wondering whether he should pry. He decided against it. "Well, are you going to go home later on tonight?"
"I don't know."
"Then… you don't know where you'll be staying for the night?"
"I don't."
"If you want—" He cut himself off, biting his lip. He wondered how he was supposed to convey what he wanted to offer without sounding pushy or… something else he didn't need to think about at the moment. Instead he squeezed her shoulder gently. "If you decide not to go home… my place is open to you. I live down the street from the school in the Hinachi apartments, next to the restaurant—"
He stopped and turned his head to look somewhere behind them; he could have sworn he heard a rustle in the trees. Nothing made a movement, however, and Kiseki's voice drew him back to the situation at hand.
"No thank you, sensei; I'll find my own place to stay."
"Are you sure?" he asked, trying to lean down to look at her.
Not lifting her head, she made a small noise of affirmation.
He squeezed her shoulder again. "Just remember that if you need someplace to go, come and find me, alright?"
She stayed still, not looking at him. "I would like to be alone, sensei," she said quietly.
He nodded and stood up, looking down at her for a moment before turning away and going down the street to go home. Seto narrowed his eyes as the teacher left, then turning his attention to Kiseki. He had almost been spotted; had he been wearing his normal array of clothing, Unishiwa would have seen him.
He had decided not to take a limo, as that would have been too conspicuous. He didn't put on his trench coat; rather, he was only dressed in a black shirt and dark slacks. Leaning around the tree behind which he was concealed, he saw that the professor was now out of sight, and focused upon Kiseki. She's not going home… I wonder why, he thought. It probably had something to do with the mark on her cheek… maybe… He realised with a start that her parents might have hit her. But why? he wondered. It doesn't seem like she's been abused before; most people like that try to hide their bruises… He paused, confused slightly as to why he was thinking so hard about her and not the card he wanted.
Kiseki finally raised her eyes to look over her arms at the horizon, now darkening slightly as sunset approached. She clenched her hands, knowing that she had been too short and blunt with Unishiwa when he was just trying to help. But… I can't help it… I get in a weird mood whenever I sit and think for too long… She still felt guilty, but chose to watch the colour of the sky change with the time, her thoughts continuing to unwind.
Everything has happened to me all at once since I came here… gods, I haven't even been here for a week yet and everything's crashing and burning already… I wanted to get away from all that… it's too much like back home… I wish it would just—She shut her eyes and curled up again. I wish it would just disappear! Go away! I want to be alone! Why is everything happening to me? I want… I want… I want to just disappear…
Seto watched as the girl started shuddering with stifled sobs, and almost smirked at it, but stopped himself. Why is she crying? He suddenly got the urge to go over and make her stop, but he wouldn't let himself move. He just sat and watched her cry. Half of him said that if she was crying, she was crying because she'd figured out that she'd have to give up the card… half said that she was crying because of something else.
Thunder sounded overhead and he looked up to see clouds covering the sky; not long after, heavy rain drops began coming down in torrents. Only when the raindrops landed on her did Kiseki look up, squinting her already wet eyes at the sky. She slowly picked up her bag and started to walk out of the park, not caring about the rain at all. Seto looked after her for a few moments before taking out his phone and calling for a ride back.
Kiseki walked on in the diminishing light as the sun finished its journey and the clouds took over. All the people on the street were hurrying to get inside; she just wanted to walk. Before long, she was soaked through and through, her hair matted down to her hung head. Her body gave an involuntary shiver, making her realize how cold she felt. Wrapping her arms about herself, she walked on, passing by the school and only giving it a glance before walking on. She soon realised that she'd need to find a place to keep from freezing to death, and glanced ahead through the pouring rain. A small restaurant loomed out, and when she came upon it, she saw that it didn't look too sanitary inside. Before she walked on, however, she saw the sign for Hinachi Apartments.
Pausing, she looked at the list of names by the door and saw "Unishiwa Kabau" next to number 509. She bit her lip, staring at it, and the sky overhead boomed with thunder, making her jump. Shooting a glance behind her, she shivered again, rubbing her hands up and down her arms and shaking from the cold. She turned her eyes again to the list of lessees, grit her teeth, and buzzed #509.
"Kiseki?"
I am Kiseki… I don't want to be… don't call me that…
"Kiseki…"
Leave me be… I don't want to talk to anyone… I want to be alone…
"Hey, Kiseki."
She jumped as someone put their hand on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Unishiwa.
"I was just on my way to your house to see if everything was ok; you didn't show up for our meeting after school," he said, concern apparent in his eyes.
Reality flooded back to her like a sharp blow to the head. "Oh… I'm sorry sensei… I forgot about it…"
"It's quite alright, I was just worried that something else had happened to you." He knelt down so that he could be somewhat at eye level with her. "I thought you might be at home."
She shook her head. "I wouldn't be at home…" she murmured.
"Oh? Why not?" he asked.
"I don't want to talk about it." She put her head on her knees, curling up slightly.
He paused, wondering whether he should pry. He decided against it. "Well, are you going to go home later on tonight?"
"I don't know."
"Then… you don't know where you'll be staying for the night?"
"I don't."
"If you want—" He cut himself off, biting his lip. He wondered how he was supposed to convey what he wanted to offer without sounding pushy or… something else he didn't need to think about at the moment. Instead he squeezed her shoulder gently. "If you decide not to go home… my place is open to you. I live down the street from the school in the Hinachi apartments, next to the restaurant—"
He stopped and turned his head to look somewhere behind them; he could have sworn he heard a rustle in the trees. Nothing made a movement, however, and Kiseki's voice drew him back to the situation at hand.
"No thank you, sensei; I'll find my own place to stay."
"Are you sure?" he asked, trying to lean down to look at her.
Not lifting her head, she made a small noise of affirmation.
He squeezed her shoulder again. "Just remember that if you need someplace to go, come and find me, alright?"
She stayed still, not looking at him. "I would like to be alone, sensei," she said quietly.
He nodded and stood up, looking down at her for a moment before turning away and going down the street to go home. Seto narrowed his eyes as the teacher left, then turning his attention to Kiseki. He had almost been spotted; had he been wearing his normal array of clothing, Unishiwa would have seen him.
He had decided not to take a limo, as that would have been too conspicuous. He didn't put on his trench coat; rather, he was only dressed in a black shirt and dark slacks. Leaning around the tree behind which he was concealed, he saw that the professor was now out of sight, and focused upon Kiseki. She's not going home… I wonder why, he thought. It probably had something to do with the mark on her cheek… maybe… He realised with a start that her parents might have hit her. But why? he wondered. It doesn't seem like she's been abused before; most people like that try to hide their bruises… He paused, confused slightly as to why he was thinking so hard about her and not the card he wanted.
Kiseki finally raised her eyes to look over her arms at the horizon, now darkening slightly as sunset approached. She clenched her hands, knowing that she had been too short and blunt with Unishiwa when he was just trying to help. But… I can't help it… I get in a weird mood whenever I sit and think for too long… She still felt guilty, but chose to watch the colour of the sky change with the time, her thoughts continuing to unwind.
Everything has happened to me all at once since I came here… gods, I haven't even been here for a week yet and everything's crashing and burning already… I wanted to get away from all that… it's too much like back home… I wish it would just—She shut her eyes and curled up again. I wish it would just disappear! Go away! I want to be alone! Why is everything happening to me? I want… I want… I want to just disappear…
Seto watched as the girl started shuddering with stifled sobs, and almost smirked at it, but stopped himself. Why is she crying? He suddenly got the urge to go over and make her stop, but he wouldn't let himself move. He just sat and watched her cry. Half of him said that if she was crying, she was crying because she'd figured out that she'd have to give up the card… half said that she was crying because of something else.
Thunder sounded overhead and he looked up to see clouds covering the sky; not long after, heavy rain drops began coming down in torrents. Only when the raindrops landed on her did Kiseki look up, squinting her already wet eyes at the sky. She slowly picked up her bag and started to walk out of the park, not caring about the rain at all. Seto looked after her for a few moments before taking out his phone and calling for a ride back.
Kiseki walked on in the diminishing light as the sun finished its journey and the clouds took over. All the people on the street were hurrying to get inside; she just wanted to walk. Before long, she was soaked through and through, her hair matted down to her hung head. Her body gave an involuntary shiver, making her realize how cold she felt. Wrapping her arms about herself, she walked on, passing by the school and only giving it a glance before walking on. She soon realised that she'd need to find a place to keep from freezing to death, and glanced ahead through the pouring rain. A small restaurant loomed out, and when she came upon it, she saw that it didn't look too sanitary inside. Before she walked on, however, she saw the sign for Hinachi Apartments.
Pausing, she looked at the list of names by the door and saw "Unishiwa Kabau" next to number 509. She bit her lip, staring at it, and the sky overhead boomed with thunder, making her jump. Shooting a glance behind her, she shivered again, rubbing her hands up and down her arms and shaking from the cold. She turned her eyes again to the list of lessees, grit her teeth, and buzzed #509.