Tues. cont.
A book suddenly slams against the back of his head, knocking him to the ground. Ren comes out of nowhere, climbs onto him, and pummels his face with her fists.
"I knew it! I knew it was you! You monster!" Teachers rush over to stop Ren as she screams at the top of her lungs while continuing to beat Takeshi.
"Ren! Cut it out! Stop it!" Mr.Himu pulls Ren off of Takeshi, revealing small cuts, one black eye, and blood running down his face from the open wounds along with a bloody nose.
"Takeshi?" Mr.Norio crouches next to Takeshi before reaching to put his hand on his shoulder.
"Don't, touch me," Takeshi growls, his voice almost inhuman as he pulls an arm up to his nose to try to stop the bleeding.
"Takeshi?" Mr.Norio pulls his hand back.
"Move," Takeshi begins to stand up, causing everyone else to back away. "Don't, come near me. Don't visit me. Don't contact me. Just stay away from me, ok? I told you. I warned you. You should've just listened," he growls at Ren as he begins to walk through the teachers. Ren stops struggling to have Mr.Himu let her go and she just stares at him as he walks away, a few tears running down her face.
"No, I haven't seen him. He hasn't been home. Yes, I'm sure. I've been home since I got the phone call from the school. Yes, Maiman is here. Ok. I'll let you know if I hear from him or see him," Arhiyan hangs up the phone call with Ember before letting out a long sigh.
"He's gone. He's hiding from me. He's completely gone. Disappeared from my radar. I can't find him," Maiman paces back and forth in the living room in her human form with Eclipse staring at the floor as she sits on one of the couches. Arhiyan moves and sits on the couch near Eclipse.
"It's ok. He'll come back, or we'll somehow find him," Arhiyan sighs and sits on the couch.
"He told me about this. He told me about her. He told me. He told me about Vena. I met her. She was so kind. So sweet… He told me she died. He told me what he did. He told me he killed the guy who killed her. He told me someone saw him do it. He told me who it was. He told me it was Ren. He told me he was sure it was her. He told me Arhiyan, he told me. For goodness sake he told me this would happen. He told me he knew this would happen," Maiman crumbles onto the couch and lays her head on Arhiyan's lap.
"It's ok sweetie. It's ok," Arhiyan lays her hand on Maiman's shoulder.
"He told me Arhiyan, he told me. He was falling in love with her. He hated the fact. He knew she hated him. He knew she'd remember his face. He knew it'd click. Two years passed. And, he knew. He knew, and he told me. He tried to stay distant, but she wouldn't let him. She was falling in love with him too. She remembered though. She remembered that he killed the love of her life. The love of her life killed his love of his life, and she remembered. How did she remember so suddenly? How did it all of a sudden hit her?" Maiman whimpers.
"It was my fault," Eclipse sighs and looks up at Arhiyan and Maiman. "I asked him who Vena was, and he told me what happened. Ren must've overheard. I don't think Takeshi knew but she was sitting a table or two away from ours. I didn't think it mattered. He wasn't talking loud at all," She looks outside through the window with a sigh. "It was my fault."
"Kitesume," Takeshi could feel his presence behind him as he sat by the hidden pond.
"Takeshi. You look as though you drank dandelion sap," Kitesume walks over next to him.
"If only it were that simple," Takeshi sighs.
"You are angry, and in pain," Kitesume looks at the pond.
"Yes, I am," Takeshi lets out a small grumble.
"What's going on?" Kitesume looks down at Takeshi.
"Nothing. Forget about it," Takeshi glances at Kitesume.
"Is it that human girl?" Takeshi quickly turns his head and locks eyes with Kitesume.
"Don't worry about it Kitesume," Takeshi glares at him.
"Takeshi," Kitesume glances at the pond.
"I said don't worry about it," Takeshi looks away.
"What happened Takeshi?" Kitesume lets out a long sigh.
"I knew it was going to happen. I knew it was going to happen but I didn't fight it. I didn't fight her. Why didn't I fight her?" Takeshi lets out a small whimper.
"Who Takeshi? That human girl?" Kitesume studies him.
"Yes. Ren," Takeshi stares at the water.
"Talk to me. What happened?" Kitesume asks.
"She… she saw me kill someone, years ago," Takeshi sighs.
"A monster, or?" Kitesume's voice stays calm.
"A human. The one who killed Vena. Apparently he and Ren were… a thing or something," Takeshi looks up at Kitesume, his voice shaking slightly as he tries to hide the pain in his voice.
"Oh, well… That's a bit inconvenient…" Kitesume sighs.
"Inconvenient?" Takeshi's voice fills with confusion.
"The kids really liked her, a lot. Almost as much as Vena," Kitesume bites his lip.
"How? They met her once and haven't seen her since," Takeshi's voice begins to fill with anger as well.
"Who knows? They're kids," Kitesume shrugs before studying Takeshi. "You don't plan on going back, do you?"
"No. Not really. I think I'm just going to stay here… at the kingdom… at the town. At least here I can do some good," Takeshi looks away and at the water.
A few minutes of silence pass before Kitesume breaks it.
"Lilith misses you a lot," Kitesume is staring at the water now too.
"How old is she now? Four?" Takeshi looks at him.
"Nope, still three. She turns four in three months. Alex and Kit have been planning her party. They want to make it a surprise," Kitesume lets out a small laugh.
"Oh, wow. Nice. Is she asking for anything? Like, gifts?" Takeshi looks at the water.
"No… well… yes. One thing," Kitesume sighs with a small nod.
"What is it?" Takeshi quickly looks back at him.
"You. She misses you. They all miss you. You're supposed to be like a father to them but," Kitesume starts.
"I know. I haven't been there. Between the Church and school and Ren…" Takeshi pauses. "You've been more of a father than me. But, at least I'll have more time now to come and visit like old times."
"How so?" Kitesume lifts an eyebrow.
"Well, with Ren's little, discovery, I'm sure I won't be able to go back to school," Takeshi sighs before looking at a butterfly that drifts over the water.
"Why? Why would that have anything to do with you going to school?" Kitesume asks in confusion.
"At first, when there was, something, between us, she was willing to keep my secrets but, seeing as she finally recognized me as her lover's killer, the whole school will probably be buzzing about my inhumanity," Takeshi sighs.
"You should still go back. At least to Maiman and Arhiyan. I'm sure they're worried sick about you," Kitesume studies Takeshi as his muscles tense up and then relax.
"Yeah, I guess. But, I want to visit the kids. I miss them," Takeshi looks at Kitesume.
"I understand. Let's go," Kitesume nods before standing up.