I'm not sure how to add Kayaba Akihiko so please give me some ideas!
Chapter 9
Hotaru
It was warm.
A tingling sensation spread throughout my body. It was silent.
"Am I dead?"
The warn feeling grew hotter.
"So this is what it feels like to be dead, huh?"
"Oh, wait, if I'm dead, then why does it hurt so much?"
"Takahashi-san!"
I woke up with a gasp. That tingling sensation was pain, and my entire body ached. It took me awhile to realize Tsumiki was staring straight down at me.
Her worried face broke into relief. "You're awake! How do you feel?"
She was pressing a wet towel against my sweaty forehead. I was in my bed beneath a thick layer of blankets. Tsumiki had brought a stool to the side of my bed to tend to me.
"What-?" I sat up abruptly. Searing pain made me groan in pain. "Please don't push yourself." Tsumiki gently held me back. "You barely survived that attack."
"How...?"
"I-I happened to have a healing elixir on me." Tsumiki fumbled with the towel in her hands in a shy manner. "So, I used it, and..." "I see." I smiled weakly. "You saved my life. Thank you, Tsumiki-chan."
Her bright pink face turned a deep red. "N-No, I..."
I laughed. "Oh, by the way, how's Mikage?" "I've already treated him." Tsumiki informed me. "But he was quite angry." "That's Mikage for ya." I chuckled.
To my surprise, Tsumiki's face turned sincere, which was rare. "Um, Takahashi-san...It may not seem so, but Oshiro-san deeply cares for everyone in this guild, including you."
"Oh, really?" I didn't believe her. "Are you sure? Cuz-"
Tsumuki jumped up out of her chair so abruptly that he stool toppled over. I inched back in surprise.
"I am not lying!" She said in the loudest voice I had ever heard her speak in. "O-Oshiro-san may seem like a bad person, but he really does care for us all! He fights hard to protect us and is greatly angered when one of us is injured!"
She lowered her head and gripped the fabric of her skirt tight in her fists. "Takahashi-san may not understand since he has never been in a guild before, but...please have more faith in Oshiro-san! H-He-"
"I can't take it anymore."
I silently climbed out of bed and faced Tsumiki.
"Have faith in him, you say?" I said in a low voice.
"T-Takahashi-san?" Tsumiki took a step back.
"Crap. I snapped."
"How do you expect me to trust a guy like that?" I walked towards her until she was flat against the wall. "I...don't like those kind of guys." "Takahashi-san!" Tsumiki squeaked. I glared at her from under my bangs. Her eyes widened.
I always changed the color of my eyes, but they probably had that same, cold look that I always hid with my hair. I slammed my right hand into the wall next to her head. She let out a weak gasp.
"And why do I have to hear such words from a little girl? After I saved that bastard's life." I scowled and leaned in closer. Tsumiki turned her head away from my eyes.
"Takahashi...san...?"
"Oi."
We both looked up in surprise. Mikage was leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed, wearing his usual scowl.
"Oshiro-san." Tsumiki said with slight relief. "Your injuries?" "I'm fine." Mikage demonstrated by rotating his bandaged arm. "Inui wants you."
Tsumiki hastily glanced at me. I simply arranged my bangs so that they were covering my face once again. "H-Hai." She cautiously slid past me and darted out the door.
I sighed. "She'll always be the same." I collapsed back onto the bed. "Man, I'm in pain."
"Serve you right." Mikage scoffed. "How can you say that?" I snapped back. "If it weren't for me, you'd be dead. And I-"
Before I could finish, Mikage's fist came flying towards my face. I grimaced as my head was thrown back by the force.
"Agh-What the hell was that for?!" I touched my now throbbing cheek. "Three reasons." Mikage said. "One for jumping in at that time. I can take care of myself."
"I can see that."
"Two, for harassing an innocent girl."
"I guess I kind of deserved that one."
"And, three, for being a reckless, lying idiot."
"What?" I scowled. "What do you mean, you-" "You could have died." Mikage's face twisted with anger. "I don't take pity. I hate that. You just threw your life away for me thinking that I'm just that pitiful, didn't you?! And don't go around smiling all the time like nothing's wrong, it's annoying! Such a fake! You disgust me!"
"What are you saying?" I asked suspiciously. Furious, Mikage grabbed the collar of my shirt and heaved me upwards. "I'm saying don't throw around your life like that, you bastard!"
"Wait..."
"Ah, so she was right." I sighed. "You were worried."
"Hah? Who the hell said that?" Mikage said stubbornly. I laughed.
Mikage regarded me with curious eyes. "So...this is what you meant?" "Hm? What?" My laughing ceased.
"Acting." With a sigh, Mikage plopped down besides me. "I hate people like you, you know."
"And I hate people like you." I retorted playfully.
"What does this have to do with me? Mikage fell back and landed on a fluffy pillow behind him.
"I hate people who refuse to let others help them." I swung my legs over the edge of the bed. "It annoys me."
"What's that?" Mikage growled. "I'm annoying?!"
I laughed. "My bad. Well, whatever. I'm starving! Let's go get something to eat!" With my stonach growling, I got up and headed for the door.
"Why do you need to pretend?" Mikage blurted out as my hand hovered over the door knob. I simply looked at him over my shoulder and smiled.
"Because the real me is ugly."
I turned the door knob. I managed to open the door a few inches before Lilia came flying towards me.
"HOTARU!"
"Agh!"
I fell to the floor with Lilia on top of me. She clung to my neck and rubbed her cheek against mine.
"I was so scared! I thought you were dead!" She cried. I squirmed under her slim body and struggled to lengthen the distance between her face and mine.
"S-Sorry to worry you, Lilia-san." I apologized. Inui pryed her off me.
"Man, you gave us quite a shock there." Inui helped me up. I nodded at him in thanks.
"Oh, please!" I grinned. "I won't die that easily."
My joke seemed to lighten the mood and sent the guild into laughter.
"You must be hungry." Ryo said. "And so am I!" Let's go eat!"
"Yeah!"
We gathered around the dining table and began to stuff ourselves full. The air was bright and cheerful, but I could feel Mikage's eyes glaring at me.
"This is gonna be a pain."
