Ch. 4

Finding the truth and Aki

Hibino-san's dad drove us back to the village. Apparently my siblings are curious about the same thing too. Mahiru went off somewhere in Tokyo when I told everyone that I wanted to go back to the village to check something.

Once we arrived, my dad greeted us. He never comes this far to the village boarder. Oh, well. "Hi, you three," he says, smiling.

"Poppa!" Utao said happily. The four of us hugged… then I spoke.

"Dad. I need to see Moyako Somaki," I told him.

"Did something happen to Kukuri? Or Takemikazuchi?" he asked, like he was worried.

"No, no. They're fine dad. I just want to check something. Please, father," I told him.

"You know where she is, Kyohei," dad said walking off. Back into the village.

Utao, Kirio, Hibino-san and I walked into the village and to the repair house for kakashi. I called for Moyako as I looked up. My hunch was right. Kuramitsuha is right here, all banged up, but… but why isn't he with Aki?

"Oh, Kyohei-sama. I didn't know you were dropping by. Is everything alright?" Moyako asked, coming down to us.

"What's Kuramitsuha doing here?" I asked, my eyes were wide in confusion and worry now.

"The villagers found him outside the village all banged up. I think he was purposely banged badly enough to get a new Seki," Moyako told me.

"What? But then…" I think back to that dream I had last night. There was no sign of Kuramitsuha anywhere. Nor did Utao and Kirio sense him anywhere.

"I've seen what I wanted… I'm out. Thanks Moyako," I said and left the building. The other three were following me.

I walked down to the river Aki and I used to go to a lot. I start thinking about the time we made that promise to each other.

Aki's P.O.V.

I try remaining conscious for a while longer. Thinking about the time Kyohei and I made that promise to each other.

~Aki's and Kyohei's flashback~

I stood in front of some of the village bullies. Kyohei was nowhere in sight at the moment. Tokoshin was the leader's name. He pulled out a pocket knife as he buddies held me still.

I did struggle to get free but I couldn't bring my foot up to kick them. Tokoshin slashed my arm then stabbed the knife into it. I let out a shout of pain as a familiar sound came across this area.

I look up to see Kukuri scaring away Tokoshin and his pals. "Aki!" Kyohei! Kind of late but just in time too. "Ah, geez. Aki, are you okay?"

"Kyohei… I'll live," I told him, pulling out the pocket knife from my arm. My blood ran down my arm. I couldn't help but wince at the pain.

"Aw, we better get that cleaned up and fast," Kyohei said, helping me down to the river we were by. He ripped his shirt and got it wet with the water. He cleaned up my wound with it, which… made me wince again.

"Ah, that stings, Kyohei."

"Sorry." He ripped his shirt again and bandaged up my wound.

"Uh… thanks Kyohei," I said, kind of embarrassed.

"No problem, Aki," he said as we sat down by the river. The water looks so peaceful. "Say, uh… Aki."

"Hm?" I look over at Kyohei, wondering what he was going to say.

"Let's make a promise."

"A promise?"

"Yes. A promise that we'll never lie to each other." I thought on it for a few seconds. Then held out my hand to him. "Yeah. I promise to never break that promise. Although you should know that I might try avoiding telling you the truth."

"Yeah. I know that," Kyohei smiled as he clasped his hand with mine.

~End Aki's and Kyohei's flashback~

I… I never did break that promise. Hell I didn't even try avoiding the truth with him. It… he hasn't broken it either, I can tell. He just believes what he wants to believe.

No one can make him see the truth. He has to see it for himself. Hm? It's so quiet here. No one's around. I'm all alone. Like I've always been… my whole life. I'm going to die… all… alone.

Kyohei won't come looking for me. He never wants to see me again anyway, so why should he come looking for a lying piece of crap? He doesn't want to know the truth.

Kyohei's P.O.V.

Looking back on everything that happened… Aki's never lied to me! That time when we found that four legged kakashi, he didn't lie to me. When I saw him in the middle of the room with everyone slaughtered… he didn't lie to me then either!

"Aki's never broken that promise! Damn it, I have to find him!" I shouted and ran off, back to Tokyo. Hoping he's still somewhere in that city.

"Wait, Kyohei!" shouted my siblings, chasing after me.

"Kuga-kun!" Hibino-san shouted chasing after me as well. Aki… how can I find Aki once I get back to the city?

Aki's P.O.V.

It started to rain where I was. Laying on the ground of this cold, dark place. If only I could slip away right now… Kyohei wouldn't have to worry about running into this lying scumbag ever again.

No one would have to worry about this demon born child sneaking around. Wondering if I'm going to kill them or not.

I can feel that paint starting to harden inside my stomach. It's… not something to be digested at all. I've been fucked to no end… ah! Damn it.

I look up at the sky, raining down on me. With water still falling from my eyes. Cracks of thunder and lightning sound in the distance.

"Aki!" Hm? I must be hearing things. That can't be Kyohei calling me. "Aki, where are you!? Aki please come out! Aki!"

Ah, finally. I finally start to feel myself fading away. He doesn't have to deal… with my lying mouth anymore. He can forget all about me. Kyohei and the others… don't have to… deal with… me… anymore.

I… I should thank… that 'Mr. Demon' bastard. Its thanks… to him… that I'm… dying… but… but it would've been nice… to actually say… good-bye to… Kyohei.

I black out at that moment.

Kyohei's P.O.V.

"Aki! Aki please answer me! Where the hell are you!?" I shouted more looking around Tokyo in all the places he might be.

I ran by an ally. Huh? Going back to it because something caught my eye. I walk in and gasp in horror. "Aki!" Aki was laying on the damp ground wrapped up in a kakashi arm that I've never seen before.

As I got closer to him, I could see that he was tied up tightly too. I knelt down to him. Unwrapping this kakashi arm from him. Aw man. He's been stabbed all over his arms and legs. What the hell happened?

I turned his face over so I could see it. I gasp to see not only that he's been gagged… but the tear stains on his cheeks. The rain could've done that, true… but I can see tear stains. Real tear stains on Aki's cheeks.

"Aki? Aki, please wake up," I tried as I took the ropes off him and the tape. Finding out that a rag had been stuffed in his mouth as well. I take that out to find that certain colors of paint is in the back of his throat.

What the hell happened?! "Aki, please wake up!" He remained motionless.

"Kuga-kun!" Hibino-san gasped once she got to me with my siblings. She knelt down, placing her hand near Aki's nose. "He's still breathing. But it's faint."

"The hospital! Where's the nearest hospital?!" I asked in a shout.

"Follow me, Kuga-kun," Hibino-san said standing up. I pulled Aki onto my back and ran after Hibino-san. Utao and Kirio were up there with Hibino-san so I could see them too.

Damn it Aki. Please don't die! I finally realized my mistake! Aki, please, I'm begging you to wake up!

...

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