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Of Butterfly Wings

Chapter Seven: Future

The walk to the shrine was mostly uneventful. Touya fell into step with Kagome as he followed her down the familiar alleyways and deserted streets. The area was generally considered nice. So he wasn't too worried about them running into trouble.

"Your family won't be upset with you, right? For staying out so late and skipping class?" His question appeared to have taken her by surprise. Kagome tipped her head towards him as if she hadn't even considered the possibility.

She scratched the side of her head sheepishly, "Probably not. I mean, it's not like I make a habit of skipping or anything like that."

He could tell that she wasn't being completely truthful with him. That there was something about her relationship with her family that she didn't want to discuss.

Touya rolled his shoulders in response, "Well, if you ever feel like bailing out again, just let me know. I'll be your co-conspirator."

It was just as she said earlier.

If she wasn't ready to tell him, then he wouldn't push it out of her. Conversely, he didn't want her thinking that she couldn't tell him because of all his emotional baggage that he was already dealing with.

Kagome gave a small laugh as she intertwined their fingers together. The simple act alone made his heart jump within his chest.

He already knew what his feelings meant. He'd gone through them once before to understand what was happening. However this was different from back then. Kagome wasn't ashamed to proclaim him as her friend to the world. She'd chosen him again and again and again. Even when people were pointing at them and insulting them for their odd bond with one another. She never paid them much mind.

The real issue came in the fact that he knew next to nothing about Kagome's personal life. She'd spent so much of her time talking about him and his issues, that he never once learned anything about her save for the fact that she despised being called a shrine girl. In truth, he had no idea if she was even single.

His gaze drifted towards her flushed cheeks and wide smile.

It wasn't lost on him how many of their peers had their eyes on her. Ijiwaru had already tried—and failed—at asking her out. He'd also witnessed her being called out of class many times by virtual strangers that were in their grade. There was even an incident where a third year had called on her.

As far as he knew, she'd turned them all down citing that she wanted to focus on her studies.

He believed that she was telling the truth when she informed her would-be suitors of her excuse. Yet there was something else that bothered him. It seemed like there was some other reason as to why she wasn't actively going out with anyone.

It'd be conceited of him to think that he was the reason for her constantly rejecting other people romantically. So if it wasn't him, then what or who was it?

Touya paused as they came upon the impossibly high staircase he knew led to the Higure Shrine. He'd never visited it himself personally but he had passed by it several times on his way home with Fuyumi. She used to point up to the top and say that a friend of hers lived there. He hadn't paid it much mind back then, but at least now he knew which friend she was talking about.

What else had she said about her? He could no longer remember. Everything had gone in one ear and out the other. All because he'd been too damn focused on a girl that was only interested in using him. His lips dipped at the thought.

"This is it." Kagome stepped in front of him, casting him a grateful smile. "Thanks for walking me back Touya-kun. Are you sure you'll be alright heading home by yourself though?"

He threw her a self-confident smirk, "I can take care of myself just fine. Besides, it'd hurt my pride more to have you walk me home anyways. But if you're worried, I don't mind exchanging numbers with you." He had to admit that it was something of a long shot, and underhanded if he had to say so himself. Still, he was curious to see how she'd react. "I'll message you when I make it back. That sound okay?"

In his past relationship, if he could even call it that, his ex had virtually demanded that they only meet in places where prying eyes would never see them. She never gave him her phone number and she made it abundantly clear that she didn't want him approaching her at school. She had told him that she'd been bullied mercilessly by her sister growing up, so she didn't want to give her any ammo to use against her. He believed her in the moment, but looking back he knew that she had lied from the very beginning. He sincerely doubted that she even had a sister, or if she did then she likely had never been bullied by her. He'd learned much later that his ex been ashamed of him and only used him as bait to force the guy she really wanted to break up with his then girlfriend and go out with her instead. She had waived their 'relationship' in someone else's face just to insult their ego and make them do as she wanted. He'd been nothing but that fodder for that girl.

His gaze drifted towards Kagome once more.

He had no expectations that exchanging numbers with Kagome now would mean that their bond had been taken to another level. Nor did he expect her to suddenly develop feelings for him and accept his advances. If anything, he just wanted to move at a slow pace this time. He just wanted to get to know her. The real her. Not just the supportive friend that she'd been forcing herself to become since the day they'd met. He wanted to know more about her likes and dislikes. He wanted to know what her dreams were and what she wanted to do in the future.

He had no claim to the future with his body slowly festering and rotting away, but he wanted to dream of a future where she succeeded in all of her efforts. Whatever they may be, he was curious to see how it would all play out. Maybe it was selfish of him, but he wanted to support her just as she was supporting him now.

Touya didn't miss the stark flush that crossed her expression. She fumbled for her phone in her pocket and when she handed the device to him, he noticed a rotund cat plastered across her background screen.

A smirk pulled across his lips, "You a fan of cats?"

Kagome shifted her weight from one heel to the next. He had to admit that seeing her so flustered was rather cute. Not that he'd tell her that to her face.

"That's my cat. His name is Buyo and he's always been a little, well, flabby." She answered as he sent himself a message from her phone. Once he was finished he passed it back into her awaiting hands.

"We don't have any pets at my place but mostly because we're always either gone or studying." He glanced down at the image of her cat, "But I always did want one. I actually begged my dad to let me have one once. He said no because we wouldn't be able to take care of it properly."

His smile turned wry at the memory.

He really had been disappointed that day. A stray had turned up on the Estate. He and the rest of his siblings had taken turns feeding it, caring for it and giving it attention. The real reason Endeavor denied them the feline though wasn't because he thought it wouldn't be cared for. He barred them from keeping the animal because it'd scratched Shouto, his father's masterpiece. That was an unforgivable sin in their household. So he sent it away.

Shouto had only wanted to pet the tiny creature. When he reached for it, he'd accidentally placed his hand over the top of its head and scared it, causing it to react harshly. To his credit, Shouto didn't cry or get upset. In fact he apologized to the tiny animal. Their father still saw it all though and that was the end of their dream of having a pet in the house.

"Then why not get one after you move out?" Kagome clasped her hands behind her back as she leaned towards him. He felt his face flush with her proximity. She pressed forward, completely oblivious to his growing discomfort. "If you can't have one while you're living with your family, then why not get one after you move into your own place? Don't think of it as an impossibility!"

She flashed him a wide grin, "I'll even help you out later if you want!"

Touya turned on the ball of his heel. His face felt unbearably hot and he didn't wish for her to see him so embarrassed. He pressed the back of his hand against mouth, forcefully trying to fight down the rapid beating of his heart.

He doubted she even knew what she was suggesting.

"Careful now, I might just take you up on that." He teased her back. He began strolling forward before she could decipher the true meaning of his words. "I'll send you a text when I make it home."

Touya paused mid step, "Oh and about that library. Let's go again sometime."

He didn't have to look behind him to see the wide grin spreading across Kagome's face. He could hear it in the sound of her feet shuffling and in the excited tone in which she responded to him.

"Of course!"

Touya felt his own lips curve up into a smile.

This was different from before. This wasn't pity or some kind of ploy to gain someone else's attention. For the first time, he truly felt as if he were being seen.

He gave one last placating wave of his hand as he made his way home.

Tomorrow, he'd have to ask Fuyumi some questions.