This was all possible thanks to Rainbow-Winged Pheonix and her awesome inputs. Thank you girl for allowing me to pick your brain and bounce off!
Things have been crazy here, but I think it'll die down soon. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy in this trying time.
Thank you to all who have stuck by me through this fic and many others, I wouldn't be where I am without you guys. I'm doing a lot better mentally too. I hope you all enjoy what's to come, and I'd love to know your thoughts on this chapter. Much love and Happy Holidays! ^^
PS: Thank you Guest reviewer for your movitvating words. They made me cry tears of joy and really put some pep in my step. That was a wnoderful surprise to wake up to. Seriously made my entire week. :3
Chapter Fifteen: A Long Night
Once the dramatic pleasantry is over, I'm ambushed by someone I didn't expect to see here... Agatha. She dashes up to me and hugs me tightly, and while her arms squeeze my neck like a child does their favorite teddybear, she tearfully says, "Thank goodness, you're safe,"
I pat her back a few times, unsure of what else to do, and then I pry her off of me.
Mrs. Fernandez ushers me over to an aged couch and she sits me down on the closest cushion directly beside an arm.
"You're that Kai," I shakily say, my lips trembling and face clear to read.
Kai strides in front of the chipped coffee table before me and just calmly says, "Yeah,"
If he's so wealthy, why the teaching job?
Forgoing that for the moment, I scan the room. I take note of the adults around us, they are either confused to all hell or livid, but one thing is primarily evident. They all want an explanation. I turn back to Kai, and he appears to have half expected these reactions somehow.
The other teens and I are asked by Mr. Fernandez to go off into another room, a sitting area beyond this one, its entrance catty-cornered at the right. As I go, the straggler of this pool, I can't help but sense that things are going to escalate quickly. The cloaked man in the wheelchair then rolls over to the small crowd, stopping by Kai.
Stepping through the tall swing door, into a more elaborately furnished area, I spy a lit fireplace roaring as if it's been ablaze for several hours but recently reignited. The room is warm and has a cozy flow about it.
On a loveseat before the embers I notice Lionel and Sinead talking quietly amongst themselves, bodies relaxed to a degree and eyes aglow with what I can only guess is happiness. Curious, I step closer to them but am stopped by a hand on my shoulder. I turn 'round to see Agatha lowering it.
"What is it?" I ask, not happy with being halted.
"Can we talk?" she nervously asks.
Against my better judgment, and wants, I offer her a curt nod and we sit on a dimly lit sofa in a far corner.
I take my seat, the middle cushion, as she takes hers, choosing the one to my right.
"What's up?" I try, hoping that if I'm nice she'll set me free sooner.
She kisses me, clumsily crashing her lips into mine. Our teeth hit hard and when I try to pull away due to the pain she slips her tongue into my mouth and presses all her weight on me for good measure, pushing me backward onto the three-seater. I'll be honest, I'm frightened. I've been wriggling and muffly moaning protests but she holds her ground, not giving me a centimeter of a chance to break away.
My adrenaline skyrockets and I'm able to harshly shove her off and rush out of the room in a frenzy. Though I'm sure to the others, if they noticed at all, I probably just appear pissed.
I sprint into the other occupied room, jarring the oddly civil adults from their storytime session. Funny, I thought I'd find a heated argument or a brawl ensuing. Zeroing in on Kai, I hear my breathing heighten, meaning that I'm hyperventilating, and then I faint, my body knocking hard against the unforgiving rugged floor.
I come to in time later that same night, laying on a large bed in a fully furnished room, my throat feeling a little gravelly. I sit up and rub the sleep from my eyes. Picking up some squeaks and creaking metal outside the door, I observe as a wheelchair rolls its way toward and into the room. A man I know, from what feels like a whole other life, makes his way up to me, and I'm uncertain on what to say or do, if anything.
I shut down and then turn away, showing my disdain at having any sort of company. Oh just kill me now.
"I've missed you," I hear him say after a bit, his voice low, like he's nervous or hasn't used it in a while.
I can feel my heart aching at those words, and yet, I refuse to allow myself to crumble or feel happy about it. I won't give in to the child inside. I'm not who I thought I was, so why pretend it?
I shift uncomfortably, subtly creating more space between us.
He clears his suddenly dry throat and says at a normal volume, "Your school's janitor is still a free man. I found out from Kai who spotted him while doing some errands. He said that he looked to be on somethin' bad and may be carrying. We're not sure what he's capable of. That's why you're here,"
My head whips to one side and I can't hold back the fear-induced rage, "How the hell is that possible?!"
My heart pounds and those rounds of footsteps replay in my mind. I was being followed! Unpleasant visions assault my imagination and I'm panicking. Before I can grip the sides of my head, a single hand calmly grabs my right one.
"Shh, we're gonna keep you all safe,"
My breathing steadies itself enough that my ears can pick up on that and I look at him, his smile reassuring, soothing to my soul. My face must show emotion of some kind because he scoots out of the chair and clumsily collapses onto me, his twig arms squooshing me to his body.
Taking him in, I notice that he's lost a lot of weight, maybe too much and is nothing but skin and bones now, smaller than me even. His hips are weirdly immobile and appear to be wrapped in something bulky and knotted. It finally hits home the real damage I've done, and I hold him with my own noodle arms.
Sobbing my heart out, I say, "I've missed you too. Papa,"
As things settle between us, light taps hit the room's door. We both turn to see Kai standing there and without a word he steps inside.
Smiling at... papa, he says, "Want some help?"
Dad smiles back and says with a light laugh, "No, I've got it. Thanks though,"
"I'll help," I cut in, feeling awkward.
"Drink some milk and we'll talk," he says as he crawls backwards, practically falling into the medical chair.
"And here I thought I was stubborn," Kai adds, a playfulness to his tone.
"Guess it rubbed off, haha!"
Kai says, "If you say so,"
"I do, but Charlotte had me beat,"
"Gets that from mom. That woman was a stubborn puppy and very opinionated. Excitable too, I loved it,"
Papa covers his ears as his face swiftly heats up from the implications, "I don't wanna know,"
I grin widely from all of this. Watching them is like watching a strange comedy show. They're acting like siblings, like they've known each other their whole lives.
The stories I was told over the years become more vivid in my head, a new face coming into view. The combative captain he spoke of, that was Kai. Kai Hiwatari, was his captain, is my teacher, my biological father.
"Who's Charlotte?" I boldly ask, trying to figure more things out, and crossing my mental fingers that the turnout will be different this time around.
Kai, and the man I can't help but keep calling papa, exchange questioning glances and nod. This is somehow amusing.
Dad makes himself comfortable and Kai sits at the foot of the bed.
Aglow with joy and a hint of longing, he says, "Charlotte was, my wife, your mother. She died from complications,"
I can see the hurt lingering at the back of his eyes and dad's too. Looking at papa, I ask, "Complications?"
I can tell this is a hard, excruciatingly painful subject for both of them, but they're taking steps to move on. That's a good sign.
"My little sister had complications after childbirth. She had a bad brain bleed. They couldn't stop it,"
"She bled out?"
"Kind of, yeah," Kai somberly confirms, his body language communicating that he doesn't wish to talk about it anymore.
Pushing himself up, Kai leaves the room, meaning papa and I are alone again.
When he's out of sight, I notice papa try to hide his gaze from me and then he tears up.
"So, you're my maternal uncle, but raised me as your own, and hid me from him by using my middle name as my last name?" I halfheartedly ask, the pieces falling into place.
My mind notes that I should be screaming my lungs out to all that knew but never spoke up. However, I've gone fully numb and don't have the strength to. It's a hard pill to swallow yes, but it is what it is, and at this point I... Have you ever felt a multitude of intense emotions for so long that you can't register them anymore? And at your core, you're just, too tired and care too little to feel? Yeah, that's me.
The man nods hard a time or two, struggling to keep it together, reel everything back in.
"Why?" I ask, my mouth moving without the permission of my brain.
He sobs, "I wanted-" he hics in some needed air with a sharp inhale, "I wanted to protect you from him. From Kai,"
My ears strain to pick up on the mess that is dad speaking, still, they manage that feat.
"He was a major drunk after your mom died," He takes in a stuttering breath and some sniffles to calm himself, "It was clear he was in pain, and I tried to reach out many times, but one day I guess he'd decided he'd had enough. I don't think he was all there at the time,"
Gulping down some sort of snotty lump in his throat, he adds, lifting his head to face me directly, "He left without a word and I hadn't heard of or from him until this year, 'til you. Anytime I tried to tell you about your mom he came to mind and I backed out. Add in wanting to go to an old school of his and my instincts went into overdrive. I fought tooth and nail to keep you from finding out the truth because I didn't want you to get hurt. To see it once was enough. I'm sorry I hid anything at all, but I hope you'll be able to forgive me someday,"
Gou, Alexander, Hiwatari... what a name.
After helping my caretaker down to the lower floor, Kai carrying him while I get the chair, I make my way back into the room I ran out of earlier. To my relief, Agatha appears to be leaving. My ears twitch at the sounds of sniffling and hiccups. She's been crying, but why?
I walk into the room, only to find Agatha's dad and mom crying too. I decide to leave, my gut telling me that whatever this is, it's a private matter.
Feeling thirsty I head into the kitchen to grab a drink. There are no servants or maids here that I've seen so I guess the Hiwatari's aren't as rich as most were led to believe.
Pouring a glass of orange juice I spy a white stick inside a plastic sandwich baggy. It's on the counter along with a paper bag one would find at a pharmacy. I place the jug back in the fridge and while drinking the juice examine the oddities.
"A pregnancy test?" I ask myself, sighting the bold plus sign sat in a plastic circle just below the purple handle.
"What are you doing?!"
Agatha charges at me the moment I snap my head toward her furious, fright-filled face. She seems more scared than angry honestly but I digress.
"If you tell anyone, I'll-"
She stops herself, realizing that she doesn't have to threaten others to get her way. She doesn't have to be the bully some monster molded her into. I know it's nowhere near that simple because humans aren't that one-dimensional but that's the vibe I'm getting.
I roll my eyes and say, "You'll what, kiss me again?"
She flushes a pink hue while shooting me a dirty look. I offer her my drink, stating that I've only taken a sip out of it.
As she slowly slips away, I ask, "Is that, what you wanted to tell me but couldn't?"
Her face tints a darker shade. While I find the kiss odd, I guess it makes sense. She just wants someone to be there for her and had trouble conveying it, as I do at times.
"It's not fair-" she says, her eyes alight with unshed tears.
I wipe her hot tears away with my thumb, letting my left hand linger on her steaming and tacky right cheek a moment more before moving away. "I don't get it. You bullied me relentlessly, just like everyone else in that hellhole. Now you want me as a friend?"
She sinks into herself, rounded shoulders slumping limply with regret. Then she scowls, feeling the need to defend herself. This should be good.
"It's not like I enjoyed it. I had to do something-"
"To feel in control, fit in, like you had some kind of power," I bite back, mirroring her moody tone.
"I am sorry, I'm an idiot I know," she says after a bit, the sincerity crystal clear in her eyes.
"You're a teenager who's been through a lot and got caught up. It's not an excuse by any means, but it does explain things,"
She holds herself, her beady breasts squashing together in her arms, seeming lost, "Still, I-"
I wave it off, spouting, "What's done is done,"
Agatha relaxes some, clearly not wanting to cry again but unable to stop it.
I rub the back of my head, cupping the base of my neck mainly, feeling awkward and uncertain about how to handle this. Is she just being hormonal or is this waterworks outburst caused by the situation?
I lean forward and sweetly peck the apple of her cheeks, but before I can soak in her reaction, I bolt it out of the room. I won't admit it, but it hurts to see her cry. Could just be the gentleman in me though, not sure.
Shuffling around the living room, I spot Sinead sleeping on the couch. A red blanket drifts over her and I follow the hands to find Lionel letting it go the rest of the way on its own. I smooth it out over her feet and we both do a once-over to make sure she's covered. Satisfied, we exchange smiles instead of our usual greetings. Despite not wanting to wake Sleeping Beauty up, I whisper, "I saw you earlier. You two an item or what?"
Potential heartache or not, I'm happy to see him again. He saved my life too, and got me back on track, in a way. There's a lot of people to thank, and he's one of them.
Lionel's smile morphs into a shy, dopey grin, everything about him already giving me my answer.
"Reconnecting," he says, his voice the same volume as mine. His arms involuntarily swing back and forth, and with an audible clap and clasping hands, he giddily adds, "Hopefully,"
My smile widens and I say, "You lucky son of a bitch,"
Lionel can't help but laugh at that one, eyes emoting that he hates it for me, the pain I feel. He can tell that I like her, have a growing crush. But that doesn't matter now. While I have my questions, which I'll indulge later, I'm genuinely happy for him. Sinead too of course. No doubt about it, I hope they prosper.
Whatever they're trying to rekindle must run deeper than a typical teen's romance, and he's not going to let it go again. Nor would I make him. We've both endured enough pain; I believe it's time for the healing to begin.