Chapter 5
I wasn't sure when he stopped crying because we had gone home long before he stopped. I had asked for the note and he reluctenly gave it to me. It had cutouts of letters from magazines that spelled the words. Whoever had sent it thought I might have recognized their handwriting. On the letter, it spoke of rape and killing kotarou if he wouldn't stay away from me. Hell, if this was sent to me, I would be insecure too. I shredded the letter and walked out of that house. I couldn't stand there and do nothing.
The school was closed, but I didn't mind performing breaking and entering. In fact, it was one of my specialties. Forunately, I remembered the principle always leaving his window unlocked, but after that, I had to be able to unlock the rest of the doors. Going out of the office.
It was a breeze getting through.
As I turned the corner of the hallway leading towards the lockers, I caught the image of the past. Whoever had put the note there was taller than I. It was definatly a guy. Shoulders to masculine to be a woman. I had myself another fan, only this time, it was a man. He was probably twice Kotarou's size and in a fight, Kotarou would be mopping the floor with his own face by this guy. Hopefully it wouldn't come down to a fight. I watched the guy place the note in the locker like he'd never get caught. With a smile playing at my lips, I got closer as the vision got clearer. Then, it disappeared. Someone had either erased the image, or it was older than Kotarou told me. Who was this guy and why pick a fight with Kotarou?
It was late when I got home. Kotarou laid on his bed staring up at the ceiling when I came into his room. "Hey, baby." I whispered, stroking his hair. " Feeling better?"
"No. I feel like shit."
I smiled. I couldn't help it. I kissed his forehead and crawled in bed beside him. Kotarou whispered, "I feel so dirty after that note now. Everything feels wrong somehow, and I don't feel right. No matter what I say, you won't leave me right? You won't?"
" I promise." I held him and he clung to me. Come morning, I would still be awake watching out for him. Making sure nothing took him away from me. I would keep my promise to him and be there. I loved him and told him so. I didn't care if he didn't love me like I did him. I would die for him, with him. Love is a powerful thing I guess.
He didn't go to school the next day, by my request. I went, hoping to catch some clues floating around somewhere. What I found was squat. No one had seen a guy leaving notes in Kota's lockers. I banged my fist on them in frustration and Yuuto materialized beside me.
"What's goin' on? You and Kotarou still good?''
"Peachy. You seen a guy around here hanging by the lockers?"
"Yeah. Half the student body. You okay?"
"Someone is threatening Kotarou." I told him about the note and how it mentioned rape and how Kotarou's terrified something's going to happen to him. I was so tired from staying up all night, my visions were useless to me and I didn't have any other clues.
"Someone's after him again? That's like, the third time in two months."
"And I need a fuckin' clue!!! Dammit!!" I pounded the wall with my fists and bruised the sides of my arms. I needed help. "Could you search people's auras in case they're lying to me?" I knew he would help. he had to. He cared for Kotarou too.
"I don't know man. That takes energy that I just don't have right at the moment. Maybe later." He stalked off with a sway to his hips, leaving me confused. School was almost over, but there was no reason he didn't have the energy. He'd never complained about not having energy before. It didn't take much to read someone's aura.
Kotarou was gone when I got home. Truthfully, it pssed me off that he didn't call when he left. I didn't like it. I called him on his phone and no one picked up. I got worried so i called his work.
Not there.
Parent's House.
Not there either. Shit.
Grampa came home late with cut and bruises on his arms.
"What happened?"
"Tatsuki..." he wheezed, dropping his hat. "They..."
"They what? What happened?" I went to touch him, and my hand came away with blood on my fingertips. Right below his ribcage, I saw it. I knew what it was because I'd had one before. A bullethole.
"They took..." he collapsed where he stood. I manage to call an ambulence and they took hm to the hospital while he was passed out cold. Blood loss.
I retraced his steps and saw who shot him. I wanted revenge. I wanted it now. The man who shot him was the same guy who given the note to Kotarou. Same clothes. Same smirk as he did it. A mischevious little grin. I'd kill him.
Just as I was walking away, he turned and waved to me. He was toying with me. He knew what I could do and was toying with me. That's when i realized, the shot wasn't a killing blow. He hadn't meant to kill anyone. He was threatening me. Threatening Kotarou.
Kotarou. Where was he? Safe? Dead? No. I wouldn't think about that just yet. I'd wait. My cellphone rang.
"Hello?"
I heard wheazing on the other end. "...Tatsuki...I need you..."
"Kotarou! Where are you, baby? Are you okay?"
"... I need you..."
"Where are you?"
There was a long pause. I called his name to make sure he was still there. "I uh...In...In front of the house... It's cold. And I think it's about to rain. Hurry."
"Ok baby. I'm on my way. Don't move. How was your day off?"
"...They came right after you left..."
I think I was about to start panicking. "What did they do, honey? Did they hurt you?"
"..." The call droppped. Or he hung up. He soundeed hurt and tired. Two things that are never a good combination.