X-X-X-X
Chapter 8
X-X-X-X
"85...86...87..." I swung the katana down after counting. I ignored the fact that I was sweating and the sun was beating down on me. "94...95...96..." I had to get strong...much stronger. "100...done..." I said sheathing my katana.
"Hard at work, I see." Guren said approaching me from a distance.
"I'm not in the mood..." I used the back of my hand to get rid of the sweat on my chin. "So, what do you need?" I asked staring at him.
"Yuuichirou woke up." I turned my gaze away, a frown on my lips. "Do you not want to see him?" Guren questioned leaning against the wall.
"I'm pissed off at myself." I placed the katana against the wall and I began my stretches. "By the way, why did you say Yuu-kun loves me in that letter? It's not a very good joke."
"Joke?" Guren stared at me, disbelief written all over his face. "You...are probably the most oblivious person around when it comes to love."
"I'm not oblivious."
"Yuuichirou...has his work cut out for him..."
"It's been a while since we last sparred. How about it, do you want to go a round?" I stood up, grabbing my katana. "Or are you getting too old?"
"You're a brat as usual."
"I try."
I gave Guren a slight grin as he got ready. The last time I sparred against Guren one on one...was probably months ago. The two of us exchanged blows for the next hour, but still lost since Guren was still going easy on me! That didn't mean I didn't suffer injuries...although, I'm a bit unsure if a large bump to the top of the head counts as an injury.
"Damn...That hurts...!" I said holding my head.
"Hurry up and go see Yuuichirou." Guren said sheathing his katana.
"I'll do it after I shower." I stood up and I rotated my right arm. "...I was too weak to protect him..." I muttered staring down at the ground.
"You're just a kid, a few years of training is nothing compared to real experience." Guren pushed my head down, roughly ruffling my hair. "Go see him before he starts complaining."
"Owowowowow!"
"Hurry up and leave."
"Don't touch the head injury, you asshole!"
"What a foul mouth you have."
"I'm going! I'm going, geez!"
I left Guren alone and I went home to take a shower. I was just getting out of the shower when I heard the front door open. So Yuu returned home on his own. I walked towards the front and Yuu looked up at me when he was taking off his shoes. I quickly approached Yuu and I hugged him. I rested my head on his chest, unable to say anything.
"K-Kanon?" Yuu asked staring down at me.
"...I'm sorry." I muttered into his chest.
"W-What?"
"...I couldn't protect you..."
"That's not your fault, Kanon."
"I'm supposed to protect you..."
"If anything, I should be protecting you. We're family."
"Yuu-kun!" I looked up at him, our nose touching. I blinked when he suddenly pulled back and away from me. "Yuu...kun...?"
"S-Sorry! I-It's nothing!" Yuu was holding the lower half of his face, looking quite embarrassed. "It's nothing!"
"Are you alright?" I tilted my head to the side. "You're not too badly hurt, right?"
"I-I'm okay."
"The bath is still hot so wash up while I make dinner."
"Y-Yeah..."
Yuu walked past me and to the bathroom while I went to the kitchen to make dinner. Since Yuu wasn't having a very good day, I'll make curry tonight. I'm not in the mood for the usual curry so I made seafood curry. Yuu came into the dining room when I was setting the table, his hair still wet. I released a small sigh and I walked towards him.
"Really, you need to dry your hair properly." I said taking his towel.
"I'm not a kid, Kanon." Yuu said as I dried his hair for him.
"You're younger than me and you're family." I stared up at him and I felt a bit depressed. "It's hard to believe you managed to get so tall." I said giving him a small smile.
"You'll grow too, although I'm not too sure how much." Yuu said after I finished drying.
"Maybe. Sit down, I'll get dinner." I said entering the kitchen.
"I'll help you."
"Yuu-kun."
"I want to."
"...Fine, fine."
Yuu helped me set the table and we ate dinner in silence. It was an awkward silence where neither one of us were sure what to say. Usually we talked about our training or I explain things that he needed to learn. Since he didn't find a need to be educated, more often than not after dinner I forced him to study. I actually found it a bit sad that he doesn't know how to properly write out his name.
"...Hey, Yuu-kun..." I said staring at my meal.
"What's wrong?" Yuu asked looking up at me.
"What if...What if Mika-kun was alive?" I asked with a frown.
"Mika died, like everyone else." Yuu said looking at me in concern.
"It's just a question, forget it. Ahahaha, maybe I'm just...a bit tired. I'm going to bed early tonight." I said giving him a smile.
"Do you have a fever?" Yuu stood up and he leaned over towards me. He placed a hand on my forehead, his other hand on his own. "There's no fever..."
"I was training since Guren killed that vampire."
"So that's why you weren't there..."
"I felt guilty about not protecting you properly."
"Don't be, I'm a guy."
"..." I should really say something, I really say something. "...I'm...not a girl..."
"What was that?"
"...I said I'm not a girl." Yuu looked at me in confusion and I stared at him with a blush on my face. "I'm a boy..."
"What are you talking about, you're a girl."
"...I'm a boy. I just...like dressing similar to a girl."
"You're joking, right?"
"Physically male, mentally female." Yuu looked so confused and...betrayed. "...I...I don't like the thought of others making fun of me because of this...That's why..."
"We're family! Why didn't you tell me this sooner?! Don't you trust me?!"
"I've been raised as a girl way before I arrived at the orphanage! I only knew about acting like a girl! I knew I was a boy...but...I wasn't sure how to tell anyone..."
"Who else knows?"
"Guren, my doctors...even Mikoto-san...but they only knew about it because they saw my medical records."
"You can trust them, but not me?" Yuu stood up, obviously angry at me. "I'm going to bed."
"...good night..."
"Whatever."
I sat at the dining room table and I flinched when I heard Yuu slam the door to his room shut. He's angry at me...it would have been better not to have told him. Then again, he would have been even angrier if he found out much later in life. I reached up, rubbing at my eyes. I'm not crying...definably not crying! I stood up and I cleaned up dinner, putting away the extra food in the fridge. I went to my room, but I decided to head to Yuu's room first.
"..." I reached up, about to knock on the door, but stopped myself. I put my hand down and I gently rested my head on his door. "...Sorry...Yuu-kun...I was just...scared..." I whispered before heading to my own room.
I'm mentally female, I had been female who was reborn in this body. This body belongs to a young boy who holds female characteristics. I wasn't normal and I was actually afraid of what others may say about me. It might be fun seeing others be surprised as heck finding out I'm actually a boy...but I don't want people to make fun of me for it.
X-X-X-X
I was hiding out in Mikoto's office. After making breakfast for Yuu, I went to see Mikoto. However, Mikoto wasn't here so I occupied myself by organizing his work. I help Mikoto out while he helped me study once he got a bit of time, sometimes asked him for advice if I need it. Right now, I really need some advice. Mikoto always urged me to tell Yuu as soon as possible instead of waiting it out. He was right, but I was always too afraid to tell Yuu. The door opened and I stared at Mikoto who was carrying a stack of papers.
"Ah, Kanon-chan." Mikoto said smiling at me.
"Mikoto-san...I really need some advice." I said slumping against his desk.
"What's wrong? That's a cute uniform by the way." Mikoto said placing the papers down.
"Thanks...and I told Yuu-kun..." I muttered not wanting to move.
"He was angry, I expect."
"Yup..."
"You want to make it up to him."
"I do."
"Just apologize to him."
"...Will he forgive me?"
"He's your only family. If he really loves you, then he will forgive you."
"If he doesn't...?"
"He loves you and I know he will forgive you." Mikoto patted the top of my head, a smile on his face. "Trust me."
"...Okay..."
"If he doesn't, just tell me and I'll deal with him."
"It's fine, I can deal with it if he can't forgive me. I have to go to school now."
"I want a hug then, Kanon-chan~!"
"...Are you a child?"
"You're so mean!"
"I'll see you later on, Mikoto-san."
"Take care. I hope Yuuichirou-kun forgives you."
"...I hope he does as well..."
X-X-X-X
"YUU-KUN!" I slammed the door to the roof open and I ran towards him, tackling him into a hug. The two of us ended up on the ground and I held onto his middle. "Don't try to escape!" I shouted staring down at him.
"W-Why the heck would I run?" Yuu asked staring at me in bewilderment.
"You wouldn't?" I asked blinking at him.
"Of course not!"
"W-Well...I had to make sure..." I looked away, but still didn't let go. I flopped my head down on his chest, hiding my blush. "...I'm...sorry..."
"I should be sorry..."
"I should have told you sooner..."
"It was hard, right?"
"...Un...I couldn't tell anyone because I was so afraid of being seen as..."
"You're not weird, you're really cute and smart...plus...you're family..."
"I love you, Yuu-kun."
"I...I love you too..."
"What is this, I wonder~!"
"Hm?" I lifted my head up to see Shinoa staring at us. "Shinoa-san."
"You know, a girl ran off looking quite embarrassed. It seems she was going to confess her love to Yuuichirou."
"So that's why you were on the roof after school ended?" I stared down at him. "Sorry then."
"It's not like it matters..."
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing!"
"It's too bad that you can't have children with each other."
"You knew Kanon isn't a girl?!"
"Ara, so you knew."
"I...told him yesterday at dinner..."
"Does that mean your feelings haven't changed~? My, what an interesting affair. Also, how long do you intend on sitting on him?"
"Ah!" I quickly got off and I helped Yuu up. "S-Sorry!"
"It's fine..."
"What a cute virgin relationship~."
"We're not in a relationship, Shinoa-san."
"You could have fooled me."
"We're just family!"
"Shinoa-san, why did you want to talk about?"
"That's right, your training that will let you become part of the Vampire Annihilation Force has already begun."
"What?"
"Eh?"
"It's training that will allow you to achieve what you are ardently wishing for."
"What we have been...ardently wishing for?"
"This is what you want, right?"
Shinoa lifted her hand and I saw something that resembled a pen in her hand. It transformed into a large scythe. I grabbed Yuu's arm, pulling him behind me. That thing...it gave me a bad feeling. A demon. I thought ready to counter Shinoa if she tried to attack. Just because I treat her politely, doesn't mean I trust her. I don't know her and I felt she knew something about us. Demons...it gave me a horrid feeling...to the point it was hard to breathe.
"Kanon?" Yuu asked grabbing my shoulders.
"I'm...Okay..." I said panting a bit.
"This child is a demon I contracted with, Shikama Douji. I am a member of the Vampire Annihilation Force." Shinoa said amused at our surprised looks.
"So...it's a weapon suited for cursing and killing vampires." I said with narrowed eyes.
"So, if we had that, we could kill vampires on our own."
"No, you couldn't. It would be impossible for you to kill them on your own. You need to learn how to work in a team."
"Kanon."
"No, Yuu-kun. It's a contracted weapon. It'd be impossible for you to take it from her forcibly." I don't even want you to touch that thing. "I'm not helping you either."
"She has a point, it's impossible for someone to use a weapon that's already contracted."
"Stay here, Kanon."
"Eh?" Yuu ran towards Shinoa, his katana drawn. "Yuu-kun!"
"Why not show me the power of that demon weapon!"
"Knock it off already. You can't fight against a demon weapon with a normal weapon." I felt like face palming. "Shi-chan, beat that idiot up."
"What?! That thing moves on its own?!"
"Yuu-kun!"
I ran towards Yuu who was pushed against the chain fence. He was shocked and looking quite nervous. I got annoyed with him to the point I grabbed both ends of his cheeks and began pulling. Yuu began struggling under my grip and I stared at him with a blank look on my face. This idiot...this idiot...this hotheaded idiot!
"You just have to pick fights, don't you?" I questioned coldly.
"K-Kaanno...!" Yuu said trying to pull my hands off.
"That idiot only works well with you, but he needs to learn how to fight as a team." Shinoa said behind us.
"This idiot also should calm down or else he's going to die one day. We're family, if you die...!" I released Yuu's cheeks and I stared up at him with a small frown. "...I can't always protect you, that's why at least let me be by your side to keep you alive." I stated.
"Kanon..."
"Yuu-kun! Kanon-san!"
"Yoichi-san..."
"Yoichi, are you being bullied again?"
"...!"
I held my head when I felt a sharp pain. Thankfully, no one noticed since they were busy dealing with the idiots who bullied Yoichi. I leaned against the fence, my ears practically ringing. I quickly left before anyone could notice my condition and I struggled to get out of the school. Damn it...! Now of all times? I thought as strange memories began pouring in. I don't know why, but ever since I saw...ever since I met Mika in my dreams...There are these images that just start pouring in. I couldn't make heads or tails of them, they were just random flashes, like looking at a bunch of pictures within a few seconds. Most times I saw a certain vampire bastard and it only fueled my irritation when I woke up.
"P...phone...!" I gasped pulling my phone out of my pocket.
I quickly dialed Mikoto and I entered an empty classroom. I shut the door behind me and I slumped against the wall near it. Damn it...it hurts...! I curled into a ball, trying to suppress whatever the hell is going on. I heard someone answer and I told Mikoto what classroom I'm in. Mikoto is the only person I told about these...weird moments so he would be the one to get me whenever I pass out somewhere...if I manage to get him on the line before passing out. Well, only whenever I'm outside of my house.
X-X-X-X
Chapter 8 Ends
Kanon tries too hard and becomes irritated at herself because she can't protect Yuu properly. Kanon will often push that irritation into productive things like training, studying, or household work. Kanon's memories of her last life aren't complete, as the main parts that were important ended up buried. That's the reason for the massive headaches he will experience at random points of time, which will happen any time in the future~! These images will be quite important to the plot so I hope it'll be a surprise what each image means to the story~! Well, that's it for today my dears! Bye-bye~!