So Aunt Cass is thorough, Hiro thought to himself. She had managed to find every sharp thing he could have used in his room. On top of that, she managed to hide the kitchen knives too. She even started locking the cafe's kitchen door. Hiro's arm was nearly healed, even though the urge kept coming to him. Buzzing in the back of his head like an angry hornet. But he did his best to keep his promise to Aunt Cass. She tried her best to get Hiro to come out of his room; enticing him with favorite foods, movie nights, and even closing the cafe early one night to take him to their favorite restaurant.
"Aunt Cass, this really isn't necessary," he protested in the car.
"Nonsense. We're always cooped up in our own restaurant. Time for someone else to cook for us for a change," she responded with a laugh. Hiro looked out the window at the passing lights.
"I appreciate it. But I'm really not that hungry."
"You're never hungry. You used to be a bottomless pit."
"I know. I'm sorry..."
"Hun, it's not your fault. I understand."
"Right." he said it as a closing to the conversation. He really didn't feel like talking. Or eating. Or doing much of anything. His arm itched to feel the blade again. He rubbed his wrist. Aunt Cass noticed.
"Hiro... you okay?"
"What?" he noticed her gaze landing on his fumbling arms. "Yeah. Just.. Itchy I guess."
"Alright. You need to talk about something?"
"No." He said it a little too quickly. Aunt Cass took a deep breath, returning her attention to the road. She turned and pulled into a parking lot. "San Fransokyo Sushi" the glowing neon sign read. Hiro unbuckled and went to open the truck door. Aunt Cass' hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Wait." she said.
"What's wrong?" he asked, but was silenced by a hug.
"I love you, hun. I just wanted to say it."
"Love you too, Aunt Cass." he said with a smile. It was a genuine smile, he noticed. He was starting to do that again. How long had it been? He wondered. A month? Aunt Cass pulled away and opened her door.
"Let's go!" she said, grinning. And they went through the double doors into the restaurant. Samurai swords and robes decorated the walls of the restaurant. Waitresses in kimonos and high hair buns glided around the dining room gracefully. Hiro felt another smile crack his face with old memories. A pretty, young waitress hurried them to a table. The seats were cushioned with special sewn in pillows. Hiro rubbed his palms against the silky material.
"Tonight's special is our Rainbow Roll Supreme, made with freshest of fish." the waitress said, handing them both a set of chopsticks.
"Ooh, that sounds fantastic." Aunt Cass declared. "Hiro, doesn't that sound good?" But Hiro's focus was on a teen across the room. He was holding a young boy on his lap. The child was giggling and pawing at the teen's head. He pulled his hat off his head and placed it on the giggling boy's head. Hiro felt sick. The logo on the hat read SFN, for the San Fransokyo Ninjas baseball team. Tears sprang to his eyes. He jumped up and ran out the door, dodging waitresses and people.
"HIRO!" Aunt Cass called after him. But he kept running.
"I need to go home. I need to go home. I need it now." Thoughts raced through his head. He needed the blade. Now. Suddenly, he tripped, landing hard on the concrete. No one was around, surprisingly. He sat up and touched his arm. Blood flowed from the fresh scrape the concrete had left behind. He swore under his breath. A truck zoomed past him, then screeched to a stop.
"Hiro! What's gotten into you?" Aunt Cass jumped out of the truck, leaving it running. She rushed over to his side. "Hiro, answer me. Please. What's wrong?"
"Everything! Everything is wrong!" he shouted.
"Hiro, calm down. It's okay." she tried to comfort him.
"No. Nothing will every be 'okay' again," Hiro insisted.
"You have to calm down. Why don't we go home. It's going to be okay." Aunt Cass took Hiro's arm and helped him up. Hiro kept his eyes on the concrete.
"Aunt Cass.. " he started. " I feel bad again."
"What do you mean you feel 'bad' again?"
"I don't know. I can't really describe it. I just want to go home please."
"It's okay, sweetie. We can go home." Aunt Cass led Hiro to the truck. He buckled himself in and sank back. But he kept itching at his wrist. He needed to get out of his skin. And he knew just how to do so.
So this may be the last chapter that I post for about a week or so. I do not have internet at home, but I try to go to my grandfather's as often as possible. But I am still writing it to the end. I promise. Hope you come back for more. Love always!
