What Might Have Been:
Chapter Five
Eiri's POV:
It's near midnight and I'm wondering around the city, growing accustomed to the vast crowds—crowds bigger than in New York. I never really liked crowds but after living in cities for years I grew accustomed to them, as long as I didn't remain in them long. Ever since that day, with those men six years ago, I always had a problem being around people for too long.
I know it's an irrational fear, but I fear that event happening again—even in crowds. I can't stand them.
God, I need to cut, I think as I wander away from the crowd, rushing from the people as my hand begins trembling. Reaching into my pocket I take out a thin piece of metal—a razor, and lean against a towering skyscraper. Without thinking, gasping to slow my racing heart, I slice it against my forearm—three times. Trembling still I drop the razor as silent tears rush down my face, some of the tears dripping on my arm smearing the blood.
"God. Where's Seguchi when you need him?" I whisper, slinking deeper into the shadows as I wipe the tears on my shirt sleeve. I shouldn't have wandered out so far from my apartment, especially at night. What's worse is I left my cell phone at home. I couldn't call Seguchi to come pick me up—even if he would be furious, I needed him.
"Hey, are you okay?" A strange voice asks and I turn my head to stare at the stranger who noticed me. Violet eyes stare back at me, gleaming in the dim light shining down. Something in those eyes—something powerful pulls me in, and I find myself stepping out of the shadows.
As I step into the light, the violet eyes widen and the stranger gasps.
"I'm sorry I thought…." He mumbles stepping back as he takes in my appearance, obviously I wasn't what he thought I would be—but who could blame him? Who could imagine a grown man crying in a city alleyway?
"It's okay." I whisper, gazing him over finally noticing the color of his hair as he steps more into the light. Pink.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, whatever you were doing I…." He backs away a few steps, averting his eyes from my face—with the luck of resting on the sight of my cut arm. "What happened to your arm?"
"…." I tremble again as I pull my arm back into the shadows—but the stranger already saw enough.
"You're hurt, that needs to get bandaged." He steps toward me and grabs my arm before I could slink deeply into the shadows again. "Whoa…who did this to you?"
I simply shook my head; reluctant to answer his question, but not frightened enough to pull away.
"Come on, someone had to do this to you, I mean, you didn't do this to yourself…." He stares into my eyes as I tremble and back away from him at those words. "…did you?"
I avert my eyes as his sadden and stare at the cuts on my forearm.
"You were crying, weren't you?"
I merely nod, taking my arm away from his now loose grip.
"Oh." He whispers, and takes my hand. "Where do you live?"
I tell him, trembling until I look into his eyes again—mesmerized by the violet gleaming in the light.
"That's not that far from here, let me walk you home."
Again I merely nod and follow.
A/N: End chapter.