"What the fuck is this?!" Yuzu demanded, shoving his phone dangerously close to Kari's face. He didn't want to rouse Ichigo's attention since she was in her room down the hall, but he couldn't keep the anger from raising his voice. They were in k's room. Since Kari hadn't gone to him, he sought k out instead, wanting answers.
On his phone shone the last image Kari had sent. It was a photo of a letter with Ichigo's name scrawled everywhere, big and small. It sent chills down Yuzu's spine imagining what the writer had been thinking while engraving Ichigo's name on that letter.
"Those were left in our mailbox," k told him. "When I saw the first, I assumed it was for you or me since they didn't write a name."
"Then why didn't I hear about this sooner?!" he raged. If he had, maybe he wouldn't feel as angry and anxious as he was now.
"Since you almost never go out, and I've never seen you hang out with other people—except for Bob—I ruled you out," k replied.
It was an insult. But it was a fact. He went to school, and then he stayed home. He never joined any afterschool clubs, and he never talked to other classmates (other than Bob) unless it was school-related. He also hadn't thought about having a girlfriend for some years now. Kari's assumption was justified. Still, he couldn't help but bite back, "It's the same with you. You hang out with nobody, and you're always around Ichigo. Why would you think the letter was for you?"
Kari put a consoling hand on his shoulder, as if to tell him they both already knew the answer and k didn't have to voice it. I am attractive, was the unsaid message. Yuzu closed his eyes, regretting having asked the question.
Sparing him by not answering, at least not aloud, Kari continued, "It wasn't until receiving the second letter that I suspected it wasn't meant for me."
Yuzu inspected the image of the second letter again on his phone.
= == = == = == = == = == = == = == = == = == = == = == = == = == = == = == ||
I'm sorry we haven't seen each other in a while. There's been a lot of people around you I haven't been able to find the right time. I've been watching you from a distance so don't worry I haven't left your side. If you are alone I would have the courage to meet you in person. Please write back where we should meet I want to see you soon.
= == = == = == = == = == = == = == = == = == = == = == = == = == = == = == ||
The letter hadn't directly addressed Ichigo, so what had made Kari suspicious?
"I went out and made sure I was 'alone', but no one approached me," Kari said, answering his silent question, making the pit of his stomach twist in shock. K stared at him predatorily. "If that letter had been for me, don't you think I would have been found, Yuzu?"
He didn't know what was making his stomach knot even more, the way Kari had worded those words or the fact that Kari had intentionally sought after the stranger.
"If not for me or you, then it must have been for Ichigo," Kari continued. "The last letter confirmed it."
Fear and anger flicked inside him. "Then it's that same stalker?" he asked, eyes blazing Kari's face for confirmation.
"I have no evidence. This person has been leaving the letters at odd hours, so I haven't caught them yet even though I was up keeping watch." K smiled, but it lacked warmth. "That's why I installed cameras while you were out watching Ichigo. I want physical proof I was justified in beating this person into a bloodless corpse. Ah, I'm half-joking of course."
Yuzu doubted it. He exhaled, trying to process Kari's words minus the threats. "I don't think THEY will like the cameras, but we'll talk about it after that bastard is caught. For now, we'll inform the police—"
"No."
Had he heard correctly?
"Not yet," Kari corrected, as if that would reassure him. "If we inform them, they will question Ichigo. And if they question her, she'll know the stalker has never stopped watching her." K paused and gave him a serious look. "Do you want to see the fear in her eyes again?"
He felt sick. "I don't," he replied. He never wanted to again. Yet, having the police act as an extra layer of protection was wise. His guts affirmed it. Plus, he didn't like Kari's one-person approach. Did k think k could handle this situation alone? Had k planned on doing that if he hadn't caught on that morning? It was an irritating thought.
Decision made, he said, "I don't want Ichigo to ever know, but it's unavoidable. She'll know sooner or later, so it's better to have her know now. For that, we are calling the police. The more protective set of eyes she has on her, the better." He paused and waited for Kari to protest.
After a period of thoughtful silence, Kari simply nodded in compliance. "Ok," k said. "Big brother knows best, after all."
He caught the sarcasm in Kari's tone but held his temper. "That's right. I'm the older sibling, so do as I say. In matters like these, you have no right to make decisions alone so don't you dare keep these things to yourself in the future."
He reached for the door handle to leave but stepped back when Kari slid between him and the exit. "However...you should reconsider not telling Ichigo," Kari said in a light tone.
"Move," he growled. When k didn't, he pulled out his phone and speed dialed Ichigo's number. He barely heard the other line ring before Kari plucked it out of his hands and ended the call.
Frustration snapping, he roared, "Would you rather Ichigo be clueless about what's happening around her or be aware as she takes a step outside? You taught her self-defense, didn't you? Why did you do that then if you weren't expecting her to find out?!"
There was a small crack in Kari's expression, and Yuzu continued, "This is the best for Ichigo, and you know I'm right."
He used his full strength and opened the door. "As if," he heard right before arms wrapped over him, trapping him. "Sorry," k droned, not sorry, near his ear. "I can't let you do that."
"Kari," he warned in a cool voice.
The arms around him tightened in response, and his temper snapped. He bucked against k, but it was like thrashing against a stone wall.
"Up you go," k said, lifting him up easily and turning away from the door.
Without hesitation he kicked his heel back into k's shin with hard force. K's hold relaxed a tiny bit but it was enough for him to break out of it and he stumbled to his feet, yelling, "Ichigo!!"
He was tackled to floor a second later, and he felt a knee press against his back, Kari's entire weight preventing him from getting back up. "Be quiet," a pissed Kari growled from above.
"What are you both doing?" came Ichigo's voice from the doorway.
"Yuzu wanted to learn how to defend himself, too," Kari transitioned smoothly.
"Ichigo," Yuzu began. "There's been—" the rest of his words cut off as the knee pressed harder into his body, making him wince with pain and anger.
"Aren't you hurting him?" came Ichigo's uncertain voice.
The weight momentarily disappeared from his back as Kari released him, saying, "It's part of the practice. I would never intentionally hurt big bro—"
Yuzu threw himself up into an almost a plank position, jostling against Kari. He twisted his body around, but Kari met him halfway and they grappled on the ground, each trying to dominate the other.
"Tell her everything," Yuzu growled as he struggled against Kari.
"You don't know what you're saying," Kari smiled down at him as k failed to overpower him.
"First things first…get off of Yuzu," Ichigo demanded.
"It's not…something…you decide alone," Yuzu huffed, gaining an inch on Kari.
Kari gritted k's teeth and pushed further against him, and his muscles strained. "We'll see."
"I said…GET OFF OF YUZU!" Ichigo shouted, pushing at Kari with her full strength.
Kari was immobile before k let go of Yuzu and rolled to the side to a stand. He also stood up and glared hard at Kari. There was a sharp tug at his shirt, and he found Ichigo glaring up at him.
"Tell me, Yuzu," she said scarily coolly even though her eyes were flashing. It was as if she was angry at him!
Kari wisely fell silent as Yuzu told her everything. Surprisingly, Ichigo was calm throughout his explanation. After he had finished, Ichigo turned to Kari with a stoic look.
"Where are the letters?" she asked.
"I have them," k quietly replied. "But you don't have to see them."
Her calmness broke and she cried out with frustration, "Show them to me!! I need—I need to see—!!" Tears streaked down her face as she turned to Yuzu, crying, "Y-Yuzu tell k to g-give it to m-me…! K d-doesn't get…it!!! I-I n-need to…!!" Her sentence broke off as a hiccup wracked her body.
Yuzu tightly embraced her as she sobbed into his shirt. He struggled to say something to stop her tears, but he didn't know what, so he only put a comforting hand on her back.
K sat on k's bed, and he saw how hollowed k's expression was. Again, he didn't know what to do so he did nothing.