Chapter 3: Black Blooded

Norman opened the door to the room, he gasped in fear and took two steps back as I stood in the doorway, leaning on the frame so I could block the view of the room. "Hey, Ray… You know your shirt has ink and blood on it right?" he asked. "I'm a writer, "I smiled lifting up my death note; he smacked it out of my hand, "Chill dude, that's a WHOLE 'nother anime I want nothing to do with," He barked. I laughed and we smiled, staring at each other awkwardly.

A few silent moments passed. "Soooooooo, you gonna let me in or not?" he asked uncomfortably. "I mean... Sure I guess, don't mess with anything," I sighed moving out of his way and he entered the room.

The dark, red-lit room was shabby and was a bit messy, covered in books and papers filled with writings and drawings with sketches. He looked around in awe, the window wide open; I had hoped it had aired out the strong smell of sex – not that Norman would know what that is.

"Have you seen Emma, I forgot to tell her I wanted to see her tomorrow," he asked walking around. I walked by the bed, kicking her panties under it, "Yeah, Emma stopped by earlier, she's gone now though. Can't you just wait to tell her?" I sighed putting on my Hunter X Hunter hoodie, he sat down in the chair beside my reading desk.

"Yeah, I know... I wanted to see you, as well, Ray. I figured she might have stopped by to hang out because we've been out of town the past few days, thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and talk to you both," he explained sitting back and relaxing.

"I don't really get to talk to you much nowadays, sorry about that; Ray," he apologized. I leaned up against the yellowed walls, kicking one leg around the other and putting my hands in my pockets. "It's ok, it's not like I've stuck my neck to make time for you either," I sighed. "Yeah, life happens I guess," he smiled.

My chest felt cold and feelings of guilt had crashed on me like bricks, for the first time my ignorance became understanding of how bad my actions had been up to now. But I really did love her. "Do you remember back then, when the king told me he was going to pair me off with Emma?" he asked. I nodded my head, "Yea, what about it?" I asked.

He looked up and closed his eyes, "I never told you two, but; Emma was originally paired off with you. When I found out, I begged the king on my knees to change it, I never bothered to ask you if you liked Emma or asked Emma how she felt about you. I didn't care, it was my own selfishness, I figured you two were more like siblings," he explained. I felt numb, I never knew my perfect life, the life I wanted with Emma had slipped through my fingers without me even knowing it.

Norman sat up straight in the chair, "I'm sorry for that, I never asked you two how you felt about it; I figured you were too rough, too poor, too cold to have her. Not even considering that it might have worked out just fine, all that possibility wiped out by me," he laughed hunching over with his hands on his knees.

"I'm sorry, Ray," he apologized. I sit silently, biting my lip; tasting the blood run down my chin as I clench my fist tightly and stare at Norman with hate. "It's ok, we all do selfish things for love, Norman," I smiled wiping my mouth. He looked up at me shocked, then his face then settled with a peaceful smile, "Thank you for understanding," he smiled. He stood up, "Ray?" he asked.

"Yes, Norman?" I answered. "Would you show me how to hunt next week, I really want to be able to know-how; so that Emma won't have to take all of the burden when we marry," he asked. Anger. "Of course," I smiled. He walked over and bow, "Thank you, I must be going now," he thanked.

After Norman left, Emma came out from hiding; her face red with tears in her eyes, "I'm terrible, we shouldn't be doing this," she cry hiding her face. I felt anxiety fill my chest, "Emma," I gasped grabbing her arm. "We should have cut it off when Norman was promised to me, I can't keep on lying like this!" she shake as she cry.

Don't cry, please. "We were together first and if it wasn't for him; we would have never had to go behind his back to see each other!" I yelled. She looked at me with pain in her eyes, don't look at me that way, "I'm sorry, we can't do this anymore!" she cried running past me and I knew she'd be too fast for me to catch up with.

I punched a hole in the wall, "Damnit!" I cried banging my head on the door frame, and like that; my perfect world had begun to shatter. A dark rage filled my chest, the anxiety I felt when I'm apart from Emma too long had returned from the thought of us breaking up and I kicked and broke everything I could get close too.

I slammed my hands on the table as tears of anger poured down my face. "It's not enough," I whisper clawing the table in a fit of rage. Without me knowing, Norman who was nearby had heard the sounds of us yelling; too far to make out the words we spoke but close enough to tell it was Emma and me arguing.

And for the first time he realized, there might have been more truth to what he thought Emma and I were to each other. Just like that, the fire had sparked.

Creator's Note:

If you want to read a Promised Never Land Fanfic with less graphic content, I've finished the 'White' version of this series; it's Norman's point of view – So cute! Though Ray is still an asshole in that one, just a lot nicer… Thanks for reading!

Caution - Next Chapter contains graphic violence, language and sexual conversation

Chapter title: "Big Boy Talk"