Every Time We Touch
Disclaimer: I don't own Mars.
Chapter four: Old Wounds Finally Healed
Kira arrived home. Her mother wasn't home, because she was working super hard to let Kira go to college. Kira went into the kitchen and made a salad. She sat at the dinning room table, sticking her salad with chopsticks.
Kira put the plate in the sink and walked slowly to her room. She slide under the covers and let her eyes drift close.
As soon as her eyes shut, the door burst open. "Kira! Kira, are you home?" Mrs. Aso wandered around the main area.
"Mom, I'm right here." Kira said drowsily. She stepped out of her room and approached her mother.
"Oh Kira! I got a call from the school telling me that you left early. What happened? Is there something wrong?" Kira's mom put her hand to her forehead and checked her pulse.
Kira pulled her hand away and looked at her mom reassuringly. "Mom, I'm okay." Kira sat at the dinning room table and motioned for her mom to sit next to her.
"Honey, did something happen at school?" Mrs. Aso sat next to Kira and took her hand.
"Not really mom. I just saw this guy that I don't really like." Kira looked away.
"Did he do something to you?" Kira's mom was starting to get worried.
"No mom, no! It's just he has a bad reputation that's all. You shouldn't worry about. Neither should I." Kira stood up. "I'm going to go to bed early. I'm sorry I worried you mom."
Kira yawned and walked back to her room. She climbed back under the covers and fell asleep.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Kira sat up in bed and looked at the time. She was about to be late for school! Kira quickly dressed and ran out the door. She lifted her book bag more firmly onto her back.
Kira arrived at school in bated breath. Kira took a seat in the back and sat quietly. She saw Rei enter and slouched down in her seat. Rei walked by her then did a double take.
"Hey Kira? Why did you leave yesterday?" Rei sat on her desk and looked down at her.
"Uh..." Kira tried to make up something fast. "My mom needed help. We just purchased some new furniture." Kira smiled inwardly at her great lie.
"Oh." Rei stood and sat next to her. "What are you doing after school?"
Kira looked at Rei with surprise. What is he doing…? "I have art club."
"Oh! Cool!" The teacher entered the room and everyone went quiet. The teacher started to read the announcements.
Kira took out a piece of paper and started to draw absent mindedly. Rei looked over her shoulder and stifled a gasp. She was drawing a mommy and a child. She seemed to be lost in the drawing, for the bell rang and she didn't move.
"Kira! Come one." Rei grabbed her hand and started walking toward her next class.
"What are you doing?' Kira snatched her hand away and looked up at him.
"What are you doing?" Rei looked confused. "You were just sitting there, drawing, while the bell rang. If I didn't do anything, you would still be there." Rei started walking away.
"Wait!" Kira grabbed his hand and pulled him back toward her. "I'm sorry. Thank you." Kira bowed her head.
Rei hit her lightly in the head with his fist. She looked up at him and smiled. He grabbed her arm and they started walking to class again.
At lunch, Kira sat at her regular table, in the far corner, alone. She saw Rei. He was about to sit next to Tatsuya at a table full of people, but he saw Kira and grabbed Tatsuya and headed toward her table. Kira looked around her; there were no other tables they could be approaching.
Tatsuya and Rei sat next to Kira on both sides. Tatsuya smiled shyly and stabbed at his food. Rei looked at Tatsuya questioningly. "Excuse us Kira." Rei grabbed Tatsuya and dragged him to a corner of the cafeteria.
"What's your problem? You act like you're shy or something." Rei let go of Tatsuya's arm and looked at him.
Tatsuya looked down and mumble a few incomprehensible words. "Sorry, what?" Rei cupped his ear in an overly dramatic way.
"I've kind of had a crush on her since junior high." Tatsuya was still looking down.
"What? Wow! I had some idea, but… wow!" Rei started pacing back and forth. "You should tell her."
"She doesn't seem to like boys. She was all regular in the eighth grade, but when we were going into the ninth grade, she seemed different. Like one time, I accidentally touched her hand and she snatched it back as if I was dirty." Tatsuya looked up at Rei.
Rei burst out in laughter. Everyone looked up at him, but he kept laughing. Tears started streaming down his face as he stopped laughing.
"Hah! You're dirty!" Rei wiped a last tear from his eye.
"Shut up!" Tatsuya whispered. "Kira might hear you!"
Rei and Tatsuya looked at Kira. She was staring down at her food, not touching it. "Part of me doubts that." Rei laughed one last time and started walking back to Kira's table with Tatsuya on his heels.
"Hey Kira! You know Tatsuya right? He was in junior high with you." Rei forced Tatsuya to sit down next to Kira. Tatsuya smiled.
An image flashed in front of Kira's eyes. Not an image but more of a memory. She saw herself snatch her hand away from Tatsuya when he accidentally touched her. She cringed at the bad memory.
"Sorry." Kira whispered.
Rei looked at Kira. She was still staring at her food, and she seemed to have never said a word. He looked at Tatsuya. He seemed to be in shock. His mouth was agape and his eyes were huge.
"Did you hear me?" Kira looked at Tatsuya.
"Yes." Tatsuya whispered.
He looked on the verge of tears but held it together with a look at Rei. Rei was smiling reassuringly. Tatsuya looked at Rei one more time then looked at Kira.
"Thank you. I'm sorry if you offended you by touching you." Tatsuya tried to smile, but it looked too forced so he stopped.
"No! I'm sorry if I offended you!" Kira threw her hands out to him.
Tatsuya took her hands in his. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry!"
"Shut up!" Rei stood up and took Kira's hands from Tatsuya's. "Yeah, you're all sorry. Good! Finally!" Rei smiled at them, and they smiled back.
Tatsuya smiled widely at Kira. Finally.
