Chapter 8: Elimination!
AN:I felt like I was getting a bit repetitive. Hope this chapter remedies that. ^^ Also sorry about the chapter title… *evil grin*
~~~Shalalalala~~~
School's out. A loud constant ringing, followed by whoops of joy and comfortably chattering disturbs the previous calm and quiet. Kids are filtering out the large building in groups, pairs and singles.
I'm hiding behind a bush from across the street, a location that gives a wide view of the school ground. I recall from experience that Tokine will form a pair with a close friend from her class until the gate entrance. This is where they will split up as the Yukimura girl lives in a different area then said friend. This is probably my one chance to get her alone if a certain Yoshimori doesn't spoil my plan. He has the same knowledge as me and is likely to attempt to hook up with her and walk her home.
I keep a sharp eye out for my crush. He mustn't ruin this opportunity for me.
Madarao (I shiver at the name) made it clear to me that the most crucial first obstacle with "our plan" is Tokine. The object of my crushes affection and therefore a threat. One that I must eliminate before I can even think about…
…er…
…what exactly? flirting? Confessing? Courting? I feel a cloud of despair fall over me and sink to my knees. I don't even have an idea what I'm supposed to do after this step. Luckily Madarao is keeping it very simple. Step by step. And I'm thankful for that.
Even if accepting help from such a weirdly perverted dog makes me shiver.
I try to ban all other thoughts from my mind and focus on the first part of our plan: Eliminate Tokine.
She might not even be an actual threat if she doesn't return Yoshimori's feeling, so finding that out is crucial!
Madarao explained that part of my reluctance to act on my feeling might be the fact that Yoshimori has his eyes set on someone else. However if I knew that the other one did not return Yoshimori's feelings then I'd be more inclined to move in. In fact if I could maybe convince Tokine to somehow make it clear to our oblivious kekkaishi that they were never going to happen then my crush might get over her and be more sustainable to my affections!
It sounded really easy and simple. Though I had argued persistently that Yoshimori already knew Tokine didn't return his feelings, at the very least he must suspect it. Madarao however argued that as long as there was still hope in Yoshi's hearth he would hold on to it. So crushing that hope would be the best course of action. Unless it turned out that Tokine returned his feelings, of course... We're not evil, we wouldn't crush his hope if we weren't sure… at least I think I'm not evil… Actually not quite sure of that either…
I sink even deeper to the ground, but now I'm unable to monitor the exit, so I straighten back up so I can peek through the bushes again.
And I curse. Not only is Yoshimori approaching the exit, but Tokine is also in sight with her friend. My eye twitches and I curse my incompetence, of course this would happen. I've clearly underestimated Yoshimori's persistence.
I can only helplessly watch as Tokine exits the school's terrain, waves her friend goodbye and practically collides with my crush. Even from this distance I can see that she's not pleased.
I can't help but feel my lips curl into a cruel smirk as my confidence quietly grows.
I guess I'll just follow them and hope for a chance to present itself.
~~~Shalalalala~~~
The two are bickering nonstop the entire way home and my ears are beginning to hurt.
I'm following them from a short distant but they never look behind them. So typical, they are never cautious when they are in civilian mode. So careless. I've been meaning to bring that up, though I'm now glad that I haven't. As it makes my job so much easier.
"Stop following me!" Tokine yells.
"I can't help it that we live next to each other!" Yoshi replies back while making sure to match her pace." I wonder if they'll ever get tired of it.
Tokine suddenly stops.
Yoshimori also comes to an halt. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Tokine tosses her hair back in an air of superiority. "Why don't you just continue on ahead?"
I guess I got to hand it to them, even though it's the same routine every time, it's never exactly the same. Sometimes they argue about commitment, slacking, coffee milk even outfits or hair. I'm not sure if they even mean a thing they say. They seem to do it out of habit, perhaps even because of the feud between their families. That would explain why they seem to get along just fine at night.
Yoshimori is staring at his shoes, reluctant to move on. "No, that's all right..." I hear him mumble.
"You're not stalking me are you?" Tokine glares at her neighbor.
Yoshimori's eyes become large and an audible gasp could be heard. "Of course not!"
"So, move on then!"
Yoshimori stares at her for a moment before suddenly kneeling down.
"I need to tie my shoelaces!" He quickly fumbles with the laces before she can call him on his bluff. But Tokine quickly takes advantage of the situation. "Oh fine already." And she's off. Not giving the younger Kekkaishi the chance to actually fix his shoelaces and return his pursuit.
I realize that this might be my only chance!
I quickly scale the fence right next to me to gain the high ground and sprint over the roofs past Yoshimori who's still hopping on one foot while calling for Tokine to wait.
I spot Tokine who's hurrying home without actually running. I quickly pass her as well as I calculate the best course of action. I drop down in the next ally and silently wait for her footsteps to come closer.
I faintly hear Yoshimori complaining in the distance and Tokine is about to give a disgruntled response as I pull her in the alley and behind a dumpster.
I'm keeping my hand over her mouth to keep her silent as Yoshimori runs right past us and then pauses to call for Tokine again. Looks like he has clearly lost track of her from the way he is questioningly calling out for her. It only takes a moment before he continues his way again, away from us.
As I take a look at my catch, I suddenly notice that her eyes which are following my every move are wide open and contain a hint of distress. I realize how this might look, so I quickly make the "shush" gesture and remove my hand gentlyy. She visibly relaxes and waits until we can't hear his footsteps any more.
"Thanks I guess…" She says softly, not sure if it was safe enough to talk out loud.
"No problem." I mention.
"You do know that wasn't really necessary right? I don't really mind walking home with him, but you know how our parents get… Actually, our grandparents in particular…"
Guess I was right about their performance act. "I do. But I'm not here to help you. I needed to talk to you, in private."
"Oh…" Tokine sobers straight up and appears to be all ears. I guess that's the advantage of never asking anybody of favors… or to talk… Oh right! I forgot! I have to talk... Suddenly I'm all nervous again. The stalking and stealth were easy, I was trained for that kind of stuff at the Shadow Organization. I had been so in my element that I had forgotten that my actual goal was to talk. "Uh…" Is all I'm able to come up with.
Tokine patiently waits, she's so understanding. But it still makes me feel bad for wasting her time so I try to get to the point as quickly as possible. "I need to know what your intentions are with Yoshimori!"
Perhaps that was a bit too much to the point. Do I even want her to know I like him? Does she know now? Does she think I'm a creep? Am I a cre…
She interrupts my train of thought. "Intentions? I don't have any intentions I think. What's going on Gen?"
"Well… " Darn, to explain I need to tell her about Yoshi's feeling, maybe she doesn't know. Is it socially acceptable to rat him out? I don't know! I really should have planned this conversation instead of focusing on the stalking.
However a shred of logic appears to me. She (and Yoshimori) don't seem to mind my manners, and… well about anything I do, as long as my intentions are good. And Madarao did press that Yoshimori deserved some answers… So…
"I need to know if you have any feelings for Yoshimori!"
"Feelings?" She looks back to where Yoshimori disappeared.
"I…Why would you want to know this?" Her eyes are focused on me with a fierceness I only see in her when she's in battle. "I just do." I press. "Please, just trust me."
Her eyes soften and she frowns as I can literally see her starting to think.
"Feelings? As in romantic?" I nod. She chews her bottom lip. "He's not exactly my type you know…" She smiles half heartedly but it's wasted on me as I start to get scared. There might be a 'but' coming.
"I guess I'll always see him like my younger brother. A good and close friend."
I sigh in relief. I've got my answer, and it was the answer I was hoping for. Now I can safely pursue my crush.
However another stronger feeling appears from the pit of my stomach. I quickly identify it as anger and I also know exactly why. "You should tell him!" I sneer.
Tokine's eyes flare up again. "Tell him? I've told him countless times! He just doesn't get it! He's got a thick head! You know that!"
"He still has hope!" I state. "He's just going to keep pining for you until you clearly tell him, face to face, that you and him are never going to happen! After all this time you've known him, you kind of owe it to him."
Tokine averts her eyes. "I…. I can't."
"Why not?" I'm puzzled, does she have alternative motives?
"Well, for one, it'll hurt his feelings."
"And two?" Now I'm curious…
"Well… It's difficult…" She looks away. "He's my best friend. And even though he's not really my type, it's nice to feel loved. It kind of makes me feel special…"
Even though I'm trying to pay attention to her, my mind wonders off… How WOULD it feel, I wonder, if Yoshi returned those feelings to me… I already feel loved in a way. But I don't feel special as she puts it. I can hardly imagine how I would feel if someone showered me with affection… Would he wait for me after school? Give me gifts? Carry my things for me? Defend my honor? Protect me? Some of these things sound familiar, but some sound plain wrong... I shake my head as I try to refocus on Tokines talking.
"… and then there was Chad. I really liked him too. But it was never going to work out, I have my duties and secrets. So even when he asked me out, I had to turn him down. Even though I really wanted to."
Her voice had turned soft and she had to wipe her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt to capture the tear that escaped. "I guess I'm hoping that I'll start to like Yoshimori. At least with him I wouldn't have to worry about keeping secrets and spending time with him."
She is silent for a while. And I awkwardly sit next to her. I get it though. It's not easy being a Kekkaishi let alone a teenager (so I've heard). Maybe this is also the reason why Yoshimori is so intent to sticking to his crush.
I pet her awkwardly on the shoulder and she gives a half smile.
I sigh. Maybe I have no business coming in between them. Maybe with time they will grow to love each other, have many children and live happily ever after. One big Kekkaishi family.
I don't know how to love, I can' have children with him and I doubt I know how to do happy. All I'm good for is destroying things.
Who am I to deny the two of them a …
"I'll tell him." She says resolutely. I just stare at her in confusion.
"You were right. " She explains. "It's not fair to him. I'm not sure if I'll ever see him as something else then my little brother. I can't keep hoping that my feelings will change. He's my friend above all and I shouldn't lead him on like this. Though I'm not!" She almost shouts, waving her arms around defensively. "I'm not really…" She glares at me again, but her look quickly softens. "But you're right I'll make sure that he knows. I'll get it through to his thick skull this time."
I don't know what to say. I want to be happy, but she looks so miserable… So I just sit there keeping her company until she's ready to head home again.
I suddenly realize someone else who'll be utterly miserable as well and my gut clenches.
I wish I hadn't said anything at all.
~~~Shalalalala~~~
That night at Karasumori I spot Tokine talking in a subdued voice to Yoshimori as their dogs are patrolling the grounds. It's anything from their usual arguments and they both look very unhappy. I try to give them as much privacy as I can while still watching their backs.
At a certain point they rejoin me at our usual waiting spot. Yoshimori looks downright miserable and confused and he's quickly lost in thoughts. Tokine gives me a sad nod. My throat clamps shut, like there's a brick stuck in it. And the three of us just sit there.
Against my nature I try to start a conversation every now and then, but their answers are always short and often kill the conversation instantly.
Even the dogs seem to sense the foul mood and stay away as far away as possible, looking for non-existent Ayakashi.
Those darn Ayakashi sure picked a lousy night to stop visiting the Karasumori site.
It felt like the longest night of my life.
~~~ Minareta machi... ~~~ Yukkuri fuki nukero kaze ~~~ endingsong etc. ~~~
AN: Not a lot of action, but crucial plot binding purpose thingies and crushed feelings! Mhahahaha! Hope you guys enjoyed. ^^ Next chapter: Misery loves Company
Remember: Reviews are love! ;) V.