Chapter 4: A burden too heavy - part 2

Damn! Must've blacked out.

My ears are ringing and I'm flat on the ground.
I quickly open my eyes. Tokine is right next to me but she's focused on something else. When did she get here? How long was I out? Is Yoshimori okay?

I quickly get up and Tokine notices me.
"Gen, you okay?" She asks, while still keeping her focus.
I nod, other than the ringing I feel fine. A bit bruised maybe but nothing I can't handle.
"Good." She states, satisfied with my answer.

I quickly look around. The puppet is angry I notice. Tokine and Yoshi are both attacking it with their kekkai. Tokine with her small piercing ones and Yoshi is targeting limbs. It seems to be working because the puppet hardly has time to attack one of them.

I let out a breath I was holding and focus on Yoshimori. He's standing and able to sidestep the gloves from the ayakashi. How? Ah, he formed a kekkai around his foot, so the weight of his body rests on his knee and not on his foot. Brilliant. A kekkai made crutch. The things he does when he's in battle amazes me.

I quickly activate my ayakashi claws. "Tokine, help me please."
She nods and forms a stairway toward the creature.

Yoshimori spots me, but he barely acknowledges me.
That's weird…
He must've been worried, they always are even with the smallest of injuries. I try to ignore it, but I can't help to notice the grim look that has taken hold of him.
His leg must be bothering him so we'd better end this battle and quick.

Yoshimori has the same idea as he summons a huge kekkai and slams it against the puppets side. I winch from the impact as the ayakashi comes falling down. I jump high and let my claws penetrate his defenses. Tokine does the same and it doesn't take long before the ayakashi looks like a porcupine and is completely still.
As I step back a huge blue kekkai surrounds the whole ayakashi and he's metsu'd away.

I sigh in relieve, happy that the battle ended well.
It was a close call there when I lost consciousness, but luckily all went well, must not have been out more than a few seconds. I wipe my hands on my pants. Tokine is Tenketsuing the remaining parts.

As I look up I see an agitated Yoshimori stomping his way unevenly towards me.
… I guess he has something to say to me?
He's in my face in no time and I'm getting annoyed, I'm about to give him a piece of my mind when his fist races towards me face.

I'm too shocked to even try and reflect it. And I find myself on the ground for the second time today. What the hell!
"YOU IDIOT!" He screams! "What the hell did you think you were doing!"
Huh? I'm utterly in shock, I've never seen him this angry. And even worst, …I don't have a clue why…
"You are the most thickheaded person I know! You can only think of us as a burden and you go around acting like you're way better than us! "

He's actually yelling at me… …and he hit me! No-one has ever hit me! I tenderly touch the side of my face, it really hurts too!

"You're no better than us, Gen! You're the same! Whether you like it or not!"
I can't believe he's not scared. I could really hurt him if I wanted... ...if I got angry. But he seems so sure of himself, so strong. Doesn't he realize how vulnerable he is?

"I didn't ask for you to save me! I'm not some damsel in distress! Do you really think that little of me, that you need you to look over me with every step I take?"

I can only stare at him, his eyes impenetrable black orbs.

"Well, we don't need your help! We never did before and we won't start now! So if we're such a burden to you, why don't you just leave already!"

Leave? I'm so shocked, after all the trouble they went through to get me to stay, the trouble HE went through. Because of what? I don't get it! I don't get it at all!
But my mouth won't move and I'm frozen in place as he quietly and angrily turns and limps away.

My world… I can feel it shattering around me. I can't leave I realize, I just can't leave them, I can't leave him. I'd die inside. ..I've… …I've never had friends before… …someone like him…

Suddenly Tokine is next to me. "Gen? You alright?"
I can only breathlessly stare at her.
She grows worried and grabs my shoulder. "Gen! You must listen to me really carefully! Are you listening?"
I nod hesitantly, but what can she say? Maybe she still wants me here, but if Yohsi doesn't… I couldn't…
"Yoshimori didn't mean a thing! You hear me?" She shakes me a bit. "Not a thing about what he just said."
What?
"Trust me, you don't know him like I do. He's not mad at you at all!"
Not mad? He seemed pretty mad to me!
"And he certainly doesn't want you to leave!" Her eyes soften.
He doesn't? I feel hope. So I listen carefully, there's really no other option then to hope.

"It's because he's scared."
Scared? This woman is mad! He didn't seem scared, certainly wasn't scared of me!

She sits back and lets go of my shoulders. "Long ago, before Yoshimori was even trying to be a good Kekkaishi he got into trouble with an ayakashi. I had to save him and got injured in the process." She pulls off her arm-warmer to show me a scar that runs along her arms. "Since that day, he's always the one putting himself into danger. So that I won't have to. So I'll never get hurt again." She covers her arm back up and hold it to close to her body. "He just can't stand it when someone else besides him gets hurt. Especially if it's because of him."
I can still see a part of the scar on her hand and I remember attacking my sister in the crazed haze of being fully transformed… The guilt.. I guess I can relate to that.

"Thank you Tokine, for explaining it too me."
I get up and help her up as well. She's obviously relieved but things aren't right just yet.

I see his skateboard lying amongst the rubble. And gently pick it up.
"Tokine?"
"Go after him, I'll clean up the mess. The night is not over yet!" She winks.
I'm humbled by the trust she puts in me. I have to solve this? How? I suck at the whole emotions thing!
I also know I have to try and make things right between Yoshi and me.
I quickly run towards the way Yoshimori disappeared to.

He's leaning against a tree as I try to catch up with him. I can't see his face, but his shoulders are shaking.
Great I feel like such a loser, yet I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.
"Oi, Yoshimori!" With confidence I didn't know I had I address him.
"What?" All the anger has left his body and all that's left is frustration. Luckily I've dealt with a frustrated Yoshimori a lot. He used to be that a lot when we first met.
He quickly wipes his face and turns to me. "What!"

"You can't just run off like that!" I tell him.
"Why not? You used to do nothing but run off whenever we tried to talk to you!"
"Yeah, but I didn't know better. And you do."
He's silent, avoiding my eyes. I can tell he's struggling with his emotions.
"So, you really want me to leave?" I ask hesitantly.
He looks up shocked. His eyes are glassy and I can see every emotion going through them.
"No! … I just…"
He can't find the words, but I understand.

"Good, cause I'm not going anywhere. Even if I'm a burden to you."
He lets out a tired sigh, he looks emotionally drained. "You're not a burden." He mutters. "Stop trying to make me sound like you."
I can't help but smile.

"Here." I present the skateboard. "That kekkai must not be the most pleasant thing to walk on."
I already see a couple of dark blotches forming around the kekkai. At least he didn't agitate his foot further.
"It's nothing." He responds as he turns away. Anger flairs up in me as I grab his hand to make him face me.
"If you don't want my help, make sure you don't need it, idiot! Otherwise I have to give it to you anyway! Because…" I hesitate, his eyes reach up to meet mine. I gently let go of his hand "Because that's what friends do."
He smiles a sad smile. And nods. "I get it."
He releases the kekkai and slowly sits on the skateboard.

As I start pulling him along I can't help but remember that fury that faced me mere minutes ago.
That passion!
There's no trace of it now. Did it all burn up in one heated moment?
I can't help but feel thrilled at being able to let someone feel so much for me.
I wonder if I'll ever get to see that passion again.

"I'm sorry." He whispers, but I can hear him clearly.
"Forget about it." I order him. "I have."

"Okay..."
And this time his smile isn't so sad.

~~~ Minareta machi... ~~~ Yukkuri fuki nukero kaze ~~~ endingsong etc. ~~~

AN: And? Liked it… Ohohoho! :3

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Next Chapter 5: Is it love?