Chapter 3: A burden too heavy - part 1
I realized last chapter that I had major grammar issues, switching between past and present tense... ^^;; Gomen nasai! orz
I guess I just have to pick one and stick with it. Past tenst it is! Wish me luck!
*edit* Present tense it is! -.-;;
~~~Shalalalala~~~
As we finally arrive at the Karasumori site it had already gotten quite late. The moon was high and bright in the sky and the stars shone like no tomorrow.
I came to a stop at the Western gate and the skateboard rolls to a quiet stop. I wonder how I 'm going to get the invalid over the locked gate. After all I was the designated babysitter and "friend" but even before I could go through my horrific options I hear a "Ketsu" and we are promptly elevated upwards. Lost my damn balance in the progress. Annoyed I look back to Yoshimori, still solidly on his skateboard and looking smug. Fingers still in position he issues another Ketsu for a bridge over the gate.
I guess being a Kekkaishi has his perks...
As soon as we are on the other side Sumimura insists that I help him walk. He clings his skateboard under his arm and starts hopping to me. I raise my eyebrow and as he reaches out to grab my shoulder I simply take a small step backwards. He flails wildly, trying to keep his balance. And then glares at me.
"Aw come on!" He pleads "You don't expect me to let Tokine see me like that?" His eyes turn to instant puppy eyes. He and his stupid crush, I roll my eyes but none the less take a step back so he can grab my shoulder.
We slowly make our way towards where we usual meet, Yoshimori hopping alongside me, his hand an ever warm presence on my shoulder.
I note that it doesn't bother me at all.
No, not at all...
~~~Shalalalala~~~
I see it! Before Tokines face contracts to one of pure annoyance.
It was worry.
Sumimura of course completely misses it and starts bickering with her. They do that a lot lately, ever since Sumimura got hurt, perhaps a worrying Tokine is a bickering one. It's probably just as well, because that way Yoshimori won't worry about her worrying. He'll just continue his ever moaning about 'not getting Tokine' and try his best to be more punctual or something.
She's probably doing this on purpose, I have to say that girl is really smart, especially when it comes to people. All I can do is bear with them. Luckily they don't expect anything more from me. Good thing too, because it's difficult enough as it is.
They suddenly stop. I see Hakubi and Madarao sniffing the air. Should've paid more attention to my surroundings. "Ayakashi?"
Tokine grabs her Shakujo (tenketsu staff) and takes off. "You stay with Yoshimori, Gen. I'll take care of it."
I guess she deserves a little action after all that waiting. Yoshimori drops his backpack and skateboard and sits on the stairs of the entrance. I do the same, after all I've been tugging him all around town, I deserve a break.
Yoshimori watches Tokine disappear into the forest. Then turns to me. "Ne, Gen. Where are your parents?"
I frown, what the hell? I contempt to just ignore him, but there's something in his eyes that makes me curious. I decide a question is a good way to answer. "Why do you want to know?" He looks down to his hands as he takes his time to answer. "Do you miss them?"
Ah, what? He misses his mother? The, what a baby. "No, I don't miss them." I answer him.
Sumimura seems surprised. "Oh." And the conversation ends. Probably my fault. I don't like to talk about things, which seems to be the only thing Yoshimori can do. He's still looking at his hands and I feel a bit pity.
"Then again." I start. "I never met my mother. She died when I was being born and I guess my father never could forgive me."
Yoshimori smiles. "I bet she was really nice." And I smile as well, I'm sure she was. She sure looked nice on the pictures. "How about your mother?"
"Ah, she left, right before I became a kekkaishi." Pause. "I miss her sometimes." Another pause and he pouts. "I bet she would've kept my sneaker intact."
My eyes twitch, is he still going on about his sneakers? Ah. Now that I take a good look, he's not looking at his hands, he's looking at his sandals! He's still going on about his damn sneakers. Baka…
I manages to not throttle him to death as I feel the presence of another ayakashi. Yoshimori looks up. "Gen!"
"Yeah, I notished. You stay here, I'll get rid of it."
"You dog!" I point at Madarao. "Stay with him!"
Madarao yawns. "Aaaaww… I'm not going to get any action tonight am I? You're such a burden Yoshimori. What use is my precious nose if I have an incompetent master?"
"Eh? Incompetent?" Yoshimori counters. "I'm the one that has to destroy the ayakashi! You only sniff them out! I could probably get a regular dog to do that for me!"
"Don't start with me boy! I bet Tokimori could do a better job then you!"
"I started? You started! You ungrateful fake dog!"
I smirk as their bickering fades, it takes me a while but I finally find the ayakashi. It's a brown caterpillar, suspended from a tree by a fine threat. It has it back to me and seems to be busy with something, making more threads? I don't know but I quickly and swiftly sneak up to it. Right before I strike, it transforms. Brown scales fall to the ground and a bright blue butterfly emerges. My transformed fist doesn't hesitate as it closes around it and crushes it.
Because that's what I am, a monster, only good for destroying things.
I shake my hand trying to get the bloody remains off when I suddenly get a bad feeling. I extend my senses and there it, a third ayakashi, a big one… And it's near Yoshi!
I've never run so fast in my life, but the ayakashi is quicker and closer to Yoshi, there's no way I can make it in time. Images of a mangled Yoshimori springs to mind and my heart clenches. Faster! I need to be faster!
As I round the corner I almost get run over by a Yoshimori scooting past me, sitting on his skateboard. I whirl around, how did he do that? The kekkaishi uses his good foot to brake and turns, spots me and yells my name. "Gen!" What? As I turn around a fist comes at me and I barely have time to raise any defense as a kekkai pops up as a shield between me and the fist. I dive away and asses the enemy.
It's some sort of puppet with a big pointy nose and boxing gloves. Ones he can propel towards us with some sort of spring. Long range attack then? As he pulls back the glove he fired at me, he shoots another one at Sumimura. Before I have time to act, Yoshimori uses a kekkai to propel his skateboard to the side and the glove misses him. Ah… That's how he did it. I smirk and focus on the enemy again, that technique might keep him safe for a little bit but I need to finish this ayakashi quickly. The ground is already getting messed up and without a flat surface the skateboard won't roll. So I launch. Claws extended. I scrape his shoulders, uses the Karasumori building to push off to and manages another hit at the side of his head. But his head turns much quicker than I expected (he's a puppet after all, I should've known) and the pointy nose scrapes my chest. I grunt and land on the ground.
A blue kekkai appears around the ayakashi's head. And it's metsu's but there's no damage. The ayakashi is angered though and turns his attention back to Yoshimori. I get back up, the cut isn't too big it will heal up in no time.
"Gen, You all right?" Yoshimori yells.
"Don't mind me!" I yell back.
The ayakashi shoots his glove, Yoshimori dodges but the ayakashi isn't a fool, as soon as he knows which direction the kekkaishi goes he fires off his other glove, successfully propelling Yoshimori from the damn skateboard. I attack, cling to the ayakashi's back and try to inflict as much damage as I can, but his skin is thick. And he throws me off. I land swiftly ready to attack again, when I hear Tokine scream Yoshimori's name. A glove is heading straight at him, he's standing, but no way he can dodge it in time. I leap, my only thought to get him out of harm's way. I connect, his purple fabric brushes my hand and I can feel his warmth through it as I shove him aside. Then all becomes black.
~~~ Minareta machi... ~~~ Yukkuri fuki nukero kaze ~~~ endingsong etc. ~~~
AN: Sorry for the long wait, the short chapter AND the cliffhanger! But it was too good NOT to end it there! XD
To motivate: Review! (the good and the bad!)
To guilt me into writing: Put me on alert, it eats away at my nerves knowing people are waiting for it… T.T
Next chapter: A burden too heavy part 2!