Chapter 7: Behind His Glasses

With each passing day, I'm slipping further into despair. What I've done was horrible and unforgivable. The pain I've caused, the bloodshed, the death…It's all my fault. I wasn't strong enough…I wasn't smart enough…I was too young and too stupid. I wish I could go back and do it over again. I don't want this, not at all. I miss them all so badly. Why couldn't I do it? What's wrong with me? Am I that much of a failure! But in the end, everything will be just fine. I'll make up for it with something precious to me…

X-X-X-X

Airi shot up and let out a scream. Fresh tears formed in her eyes. She gasped for air and put a hand to her neck. "N-No…" She covered her eyes and exhaled heavily. "What have I done? Everything that's happened is…my fault." The sun peeked into the window, bringing light into the little apartment. "…Aah…" She ran her hand over her hair. "I'll start work early to get my mind off…that." She threw her clothes on and left without breakfast. "Wow, it's getting colder everyday. I wonder if it snows here." She came to her shop and stood outside of the window. She hesitated. "…If I don't sell anymore…If I don't reach the amount…I won't have to go back…And if I don't go back…I can keep my-"

"You're up early, Airi." Shino walked by. "It's cold out, so are you gonna sell your charms inside your shop or outside with your little stand like you always do?"

She turned around. "Shino? I'm gonna sell outside like I always do. Inside is where I make my charms."

"I see…But I thought you didn't start work until ten."

"I just…I just had to get my mind off something…"

"You had to get your mind off something? Like what?"

"I-It's nothing." She shivered a bit. "Do you wanna go with me to get some coffee before I start work?"

"You like coffee?"

"It keeps me awake. So will you come with me?"

"Yeah." They walked down the street. "I noticed that it seems like you've been crying."

"W-What?" They stopped in front of a coffee shop. "What do you mean?"

"Get your coffee first." She nodded and ordered her coffee. They headed back to her shop. "The reason why it looks like you've been crying is because your nose and eyes are red."

"W-Well, I didn't get much sleep last night, and when it's cold, my nose tends to turn red."

"…Liar," he sighed.

"'Liar'? Who you callin' a 'liar'? I'm no liar!"

"Yes you are."

"Shino! You're a jerk!"

"Every time Hinata or Kiba ask you what's wrong when you have a melancholy look, you say it's nothing. When someone is asked if something's wrong and they say it's nothing, that means it's something."

"So you can read people, big deal. It's not like I'm hiding something!"

He stepped in front of her. "Airi, something is wrong with you. You are hiding something. I'm…I'm your friend, so tell me, what's wrong?"

She turned her head. "Damn, for someone who says that 'idle babble gets nothing accomplished', you're sure asking a lot of questions right now."

"Yeah, but you're dodging them. What's wrong?"

"…Oh leave me alone." She stepped to the side, but Shino moved in her way. "Hey, Shino quit it." She stepped to the other side, but Shino also moved. "Shino? Stop it! I have to get to work!"

He grabbed her and pushed her against the wall. "How do you plan to cope with your anxiety if you won't even admit that you have a problem?"

"Shino, would you just fu-" She looked him straight in the face and froze. Th-That look… Her lower lip quivered. "A-Aah…" She nervously looked around. "U-Um…" She shut her eyes, trying to force tears back. I-I can't… "…U-Unn…" The tears broke through. "Shino, stop it, please!"

"A-Airi?"

That gaze! Why does he look at me like that! That look makes me want to tell him everything. It's as if he's looking right into my very soul. I feel as if he can see my many sins! No, stop looking at me like that! When Kiba or Hinata give me concerned looks, I can easily lie to them. But Shino…Shino? It's as if he can figure out everything and I'm…I'm scared! "Lemme go!" She shoved him out of the way and started to run.

"Airi! Stop!"

Don't look back! Don't look back! Behind those sun glasses are eyes that could pierce into my very mind! She bumped into something. "Ah!"

"Oh, Airi?"

Airi looked up. "K-Kiba?"

"Yo, how's it go--You're crying?"

Hinata came to the scene. "Oh, hey you two." She waved. "Airi, I was thinking about buy--Airi!" She ran over to her. "What happened! Why are you crying!"

Airi backed up. NO! She ran forward and pushed the two out of the way. "I have to go!" She continued to run for the apartments. What power does Shino posses that enables him to make me feel this way! She fumbled with her keys, but got the door open. She tripped into her apartment and hit her chin on the coffee table. "ACK!" Her teeth came down hard on her tongue. A metallic liquid filled her mouth instantly. She held her head up and covered her mouth as blood poured out of her mouth.

"Airi, killing yourself won't bring them back…"

She ran into the bathroom and spit the blood into the sink.

"It won't solve anything."

A sudden dizziness overcame her, making her fall backwards.

"Do you know what you can do to make up for everything?"

She hit her head on the bathtub. "AHH!" She winced at the pain and felt the back of her head. There was a little blood on her fingers. She screamed. "Inochi, Airas, please forgive me!"

"You can give your soul to Inochi. There's no other way. You have to pay for what you did."

"I'm so sorry everyone!" She passed out.