Chapter 4: The Darkening
It was Thursday when Tenshi was allowed out of the hospital. He was happy that he could leave and get back to learning again. Yoshiki had visited him every day. However, he skipped school to do this, much to Tenshis' annoyance. He went to the orphanage and got his things ready for school. He was going to be late but the hospital had written him a note to explain his absence. He had to walk fast as the pain from his torso was too much when he ran. As he entered the school he heard a bell ring. It was lunch. He walked straight to the class-room eager to explain to Ms. Yashimaku why he was absent. He entered the class-room with a knock. The young teacher looked up and smiled. "Tenshi! You're back!" He nodded as he gave her the note. Her face turned to worry as she read. "Oh my, are you alright?" She looked concerned over his well-being. She was a teacher, she had to care. "Yes, I'm alright now. It didn't stop me from doing my work!" He said as he produced the folder of work Mayu had given him. The teacher took it and sighed. "I think you work a bit too hard at times Haroshami. I didn't think I'd say that to a student, but you put 200% or even more into your work!" He was confused by the teachers comment. He had always believed that hard workers get their rewards. "Go for lunch now, I'm sure your friends are waiting for you," she said with a beam. He smiled back and left the room. He was hungry, but he wanted to talk to Suzomoto. When he reached the cafeteria, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Maki behind him. "Oh, hello Hakiru!" The girl fiddled with her hair. "Haroshami, what happened to you?" He rubbed his side as it was annoying him a bit. "Oh emm, I hurt myself a bit so I had to go to hospital. I'm alright now though." He opened the door of the lunch hall for Maki. She thanked him as she entered, with him following. As they ordered their lunches, Tenshi searched the hall for Mayu. However, he couldn't spot her. As they sat down at a table together, Tenshi realised that Hakiru was on her own. She was usually surrounded by a group of girls because of her popularity. "Emm, where are your friends Maki?" The girl raised an eye-brow at his question. "Aren't you my friend Haroshami?" He nodded, but it seemed odd for a girl of her status to be with only one person. "Yeah we are. I was just curious about why you were on your own, that's all." He ate some rice and looked around again. He searched furiously for Mayu, but yet again was unable to find her. "Suzomoto isn't in today, Tenshi." He was surprised by the sudden out-burst from Maki. She must have noticed him searching for her. "Oh right, thanks." She looked at him with her brown eyes; she seemed to be staring at him. "Err, are you alright?" Her staring was making him feel uneasy, but she eventually stopped. Something didn't feel right. It was odd, but he couldn't put his finger on it. "Hey Haroshami?" She asked in a whispered tone. "Yes?" He sat back; he wasn't sure where this conversation was going. "Who is Morishige?" He froze at the name, how could she know that name? "Where did you hear that name?" He said in shock. The boy he had left to die back in Heavenly Host, the boy Suzomoto loved and the boy who killed Kiki. He had no feelings for the boy in any way, only resentment and hatred. "Well I overheard Suzomoto on the phone yesterday. She looked sad when she ended the call and then started crying about Morishige. I thought you might know who it is, or was." He felt sick as she explained. Who was calling her, and what did they say? "Em… I never met him. Sorry." He had to lie. If he told her the truth she would freak out and call the police. "Oh ok, no it's alright Tenshi!" He sighed in relief at her stopping the questions. She didn't need to know about Heavenly Host. "Anyway, are you ready for the project presentation tomorrow?" He nodded at her excitement; she was also a good student. "Yep, I asked ten kids of different ages," he stated which earned him a nod from Hakiru. "Good, you've been more helpful than that idiot!" She giggled, gesturing to Maturo, who was currently trying to flirt with a girl. However his flirting was cut short when he discovered that her boyfriend was right beside her. They both laughed at the red faced thug. It was good to be back.
As the end of school bell rang, it began to rain. It hadn't rained so badly since that night when he and four others performed the Sachiko forever after charm. He shuddered at the thought. As he exited the school he saw Maki sheltering beneath a bus shelter. He had an umbrella, so he might as well help her out. She didn't get a bus as she lived not too far from the orphanage. "Hakiru, do you want me to walk you home?" She smiled and nodded at his request. She hid underneath the umbrella and stuck close to him. "Thank you, Haroshami! I would have been drenched if you didn't arrive!" He smiled at her remark. The journey to her house was relatively quiet, as there was not much to say. When they arrived at her house he walked with her up to her door. "Do you want to come in Tenshi? To dry off?" He was unsure if he should, but he did need to dry off. He accepted and she opened the door. Her house was quite big. She showed him to a downstairs bathroom and told him he could use it at any time. She then led him to a living room. It had four sofas and a large T.V. on the wall. He whistled in admiration. Compared to her house, the orphanage looked like crap. She told him to sit down while she changed. He noticed a cat sitting on one of the sofas. It had bright green eyes and snow-white fur. It looked disinterested in him. He sat down and waited. About five minutes later she appeared again. She was wearing a pink t-shirt and a green pair of pyjama trousers. She looked at him kindly, "Would you like some tea?" He nodded with a smile. Another short wait passed and she returned with a tray. It had a selection of biscuits and chocolates on it. She also brought in two cups of tea. She placed one in front of him. He thanked her and took a sip. "Will your parents mind if I'm here?" He asked nervously. He would imagine that her father may be suspicious of him being alone with his daughter. Maki laughed at his nervousness. "They don't come home until late, so I wouldn't worry!" He nodded in relief. He didn't want to answer any unnecessary questions. The rain outside started to become heavier as they talked.
It was getting late so Tenshi decided to go back to the orphanage. "Thank you for the tea, Maki!" He said with a smile. She let him out and waved to him. "See you tomorrow Tenshi!" He waved back to her. As he walked in the rain, he started to think about Mayu. "I guess I should call round at her house and tell her about our homework." As he travelled to her house he began to feel uneasy. Why had she cried about Morishige? Who had called her? He decided he would find out. He reached her house and knocked on her door. A woman opened the door. "Hello. Is Mayu in?" The woman looked at him with a smile. "Oh you must be one of her friends!" She opened the door and let him in. "She's just upstairs," and with that she returned to whatever she was doing. Tenshi nodded and started to walk up the stairs. When he reached her door he knocked, "Suzomoto? Are you in there?" The door opened and he was greeted by Mochida. "Mochida, why are you here?" Mochida frowned at him. "Go away Haroshami, you're not wanted." Tenshi grew angry. "That's up to Mayu in all honesty Mochida, now let me in!" Satoshi blatantly refused to allow Tenshi in. Then he lost it.
Tenshi burst through the door knocking over Satoshi. This surprised the group of friends that was sitting down on the ground. They had all been called over by Mayu to discuss something Mochida had told her. Naomi already knew about this, but it was new to Yoshiki and Ayumi. Yoshiki couldn't believe it at first but it made complete sense to Shinozaki. But now they all new that Tenshi wasn't the same. As Satoshi tried to get up, Haroshami lunged on to him and began to throttle him. "Kish-in-uma… Help!" Wheezed Satoshi as Tenshi began to wring the life out of him. His eyes were black as night and he wore a crazy smile. He wasn't thinking as Haroshami Tenshi anymore. Kishinuma got to his feet and charge at his blood brother. But Tenshi heard him coming and punched him back. "Fuck!" The impact hit his nose square on causing it to bleed. "Kishinuma! Are you okay?" asked Shinozaki worriedly. "What is happening?" asked Naomi with wide eyes. Only Seiko was calm, she seemed unfazed by Haroshamis' attack on Satoshi. Satoshis' efforts to get Tenshi off of him were becoming weaker. He was going to die soon. "Look at him Shinozaki! He's under the influence of something! It was like you in the school!" Ayumis' eyes widened in realisation. "Kishinuma! He needs you to snap him out of it!" Yoshiki knew what he had to do. He ran at his old friend and tackled him to the ground in an embrace. For a while Tenshi struggled but when Yoshiki spoke he ceased his attacks. "Don't go Tenshi… You're the closest thing I have to family… I need you…" Kishinuma was crying, he meant every word he said. He loved Tenshi like a brother, and he didn't want to lose him. Tenshi whispered to him, "I know… I'm here for you…" and then he went limp.