Beauty and the Beast
Age 14
"Kei?" Sho said shyly, "Can I work?"
The question registered just barely in Kei's mind. "Work? What work?" he asked concerned at once. Only three years and he's become like a mother.
"Nii-san and Toshi said they could use my help," Sho replied softly. He didn't know what Kei would think of this. It wasn't legal work, he knew, and it was dangerous too.
Kei fully understood the situation now. In these three years Kei was the only one working to earn them enough living. He also did it because he needed to feed himself. /But you're still a baby...at least to me.../
There was a silence. Kei was thinking. Sho waited nervously, wondering his idea would be realized.
Kei sat down and sighed. "Do you really think it's a good idea?" He rubbed his eyes a bit tired.
"I want to work," Sho declared rather strongly.
"You don't need to, Sho, you know," Kei stated. A picture of Sho getting shot pierced his heart. He couldn't lose Sho, he just couldn't...
"But I want to," insisted the boy petulantly.
Why?" Kei remained calm for the time being.
"To...work..." Sho didn't know why saying what was on his mind was so hard. /I want to work, to make money, you won't have to work so hard by yourself. Kei, I want to help you.../ Sho wouldn't say it but whatever he did he would think about Kei first.
"Is this not enough for you, Sho?" the vampire asked a little disappointed that Sho was not satisfied with the way they were living even though he had put all his efforts into making it more comfortable.
"No! I am happy! I just want to work!" Sho defended.
"Sho..." Kei sighed, exasperated. "I don't want you to get hurt."
"But I won't," the boy promised instinctively.
"Yes, you will!" Kei raised his voice without realizing. "Guns, knives, bombs, you're going to get hurt."
"I'll be careful," Sho said rather pathetically.
"That won't be enough, Sho," Kei protested.
"I won't get hurt, Kei," Sho insisted.
"Sho, you don't understand how dangerous it is for you! And you're just a boy!" Kei was actually yelling at Sho. The aftershock was incredible.
"I can do it!" Sho responded persistently. /Am I still just a boy to you.../
"No, Sho! You can't!" Kei was as fired up as he could ever be.
"Why are you saying I can't! You don't know that!" the fifteen year-old was getting hot too.
"You don't know what's it like out there! Bullets don't have eyes, they'll shoot you! You'll get killed, Sho!" the vampire scolded. /I don't want you to die, Sho...I can't lose you.../
"No! You don't know that!" Sho repeated. "I'll be quick, I'll kill them first."
"You're too naïve, Sho!" Kei fired at the boy whose face was turning red with anger.
"That's unfair, Kei! I hate you!" he spun around and left the room quickly.
/He hates me.../ Kei sighed as he plopped down on the couch. /I don't want you to hate me, Sho, I only want to protect you. You mean so much to me.../ Kei hated himself. He wasn't able to make Sho happy like he promised himself he would do. Sho wasn't satisfied. How much of a failure could he be?