A screeching sound resonates throughout my home and I bolt up out of my bed, almost getting tangled in my covers. I look all around my room, trying to figure out which direction the sound could have come from. As I'm about to give up and get back into my bed, my ears catch the weeps of somebody downstairs. I grab my old baseball bat and cautiously inch out of my room and down the stairs. Who could it be? Father usually sleeps through the night and wakes up after I go to school.

I enter the kitchen with my bat slung over my shoulder and my eyes fall upon my father, sitting on the floor with broken glass all around him. I could see blood dripping from his hand as tears stream down his face.

I rush over to him, careful to avoid stepping on the glass. Taking off my shirt, I quickly access the cut before pressing my shirt against it. He groans as I do so and tries to move away, but I shake my head and warn him, "We need to put pressure on it and make it stop bleeding."

The tears start to fall faster and he looks away, murmuring almost too softly for me to hear, "What if I don't want it to stop?"

I cringe and look down in sadness. "Life doesn't work that way, dad. You need to live for mom."

This statement makes him angry and he sneers in my face. "Your mother isn't here! How can I live for her if she isn't here?" He shoves me and I fall back, leaving me stunned. He gets up and towers over me, glaring. "There is nothing left to live for." With that, he throws my bloody shirt at me and stumbles out of the old sushi shop for the first time in a year, muttering about how useless I was.

I stare at the door for a long time before bringing my legs to my chest and picking up a piece of glass. Would death solve anything? Sometimes I wonder if I should end my life, but then I remember my father needs somebody to take care of him so he doesn't drown in his vomit. But what if he died too? What would be my purpose in living anymore? I am an empty shell. I go to school, come back home, and then comfort myself with the darkness inside me. And this makes me wonder. Why is it that the darkness comforts me but seems to frighten Chrome? Doesn't she understand how much it's helped me? I supposed things are always different for everybody though.

My hand grips the glass a little, letting it dig into my skin a little. I want to die, but I can't just yet. My father needs me, though I feel that soon enough, he won't anymore.

My father doesn't come home and all I can assume is that he was able to find a bar to drink away his sorrows and an alley and sleep away the day. But for now, I need to worry about getting to school on time. Sometimes I wonder why I concern myself with school anymore. Maybe deep down, I want to go to college and get out of that hellhole sushi shop. I'm not sure though.

I happen to make it to class on time, noticing Chrome as soon as I walk into the room. For some reason, she looks absolutely beautiful today and I'm not sure why that is. She's wearing the same uniform as everybody else and her hair is styled the same as yesterday, but she seems to be more joyful.

Last night I didn't see her in the darkness. It seems that made her happy, but it made me a little sad. I had been hoping to see her last night. Instead I was met with loneliness. Why is that suddenly an issue though? I'm always alone with the darkness, and suddenly Chrome enters my life and I feel lonely with the darkness? What is going on?

I sit down in my seat and she looks over at me, smiling. I'm mildly surprised, since nobody has smiled at me for months. But I smile back her, despite not feeling the emotion.

My eyes glaze over her again and I'm left amazed by her attractiveness. I'm not usually like this. I don't usually lust over anybody. Of course, I feel sexual like any other teenager, but there was something about her that made me want to act on it with her. She wasn't perfect, but I would be lying if I didn't say would be perfect…doing things with me.

She seems to notice how I'm looking at her and she blushes, looking at her notes on the desk. I'm about to look at my desk also, but she looks back at me and bites her lip. My muscles become tense and force myself to look away. This isn't something I should do. She is new here and there are things I need to learn about her. For example, why did she move to Namimori? What's her life like? Why in the hell was she in the darkness also? These are things that way more important than sleeping with her. While the act would be appealing, I just can't let myself do it.

It's only the beginning of class, but the teacher drones on and on that I eventually fall into a slumber. In my dreams, the darkness is there, swirling in a big ball. It looms above me and my bones are filled with fear. Why is the darkness making me feel like this? I thought you were my friend! The darkness laughs silently and I crouch, putting my hands over my ears. Why do I feel such pain?

Arms engulf me and I open my eyes. A sweet voice whispers to me, "I'll keep you safe, so please don't be afraid." Looking over my shoulder, Chrome is hugging me and my heart is starts to be filled with warmth.

"How can you keep me safe? I'm already dead on the inside." I look down at the ground, feeling defeated.

"Then I guess I'll have to save you, like you saved me." She hugs me tighter and I look up at the big ball of darkness. There are cracks in it and light is shining through them, trying to break free. For some reason, this scares me. I can't let the darkness go yet. My mother is dead and my father is on the verge of suicide. I can't let myself be happy! I push Chrome off me and stand up, shaking my head.

"I can't let you do this. I can't leave the darkness yet. It's my only friend."

She stands up and places her hand over her heart. "I'm your friend."

"I don't even know you." I begin to walk away, but she grabs my hand and pulls me towards her, saying, "You will know me, soon." And as I look into her eyes, I start to believe her. The darkness doesn't fade, but I can feel a light shining from inside her into me.

I wake up and look over to her. She is already staring at me and she smiles. She holds up a paper that reads, "You will know me, Takeshi. You will."

Honestly, I haven't written in what seems to be forever. Especially when it comes to Fanfiction. I'm sorry for how long it's taken. I hope to get back into it and at least finish on-going stories. I hope you enjoyed, folks!
-Ashley(dolphinherovamp5)