Tap! Tap! Tap. Came three consecutive knocks on the door. He looked over and sighed heavily. The huge wooden door was slowly pushed open. Gabriel walked in.
"... Lord Cain." she called, "There is someone here to see you."
"Gabriel didn't I tell you not to bother me." He said barely making eye contact with her.
But his curiosity was picked. A graceful knock drew his eyes, then his eyes flashed in an instant rage as he looked at the young lady that walked in. Kitsune. She seemed intimidated by his presence. And looked nervously at him.
"Gabriel, you want to die, don't you!" said Cian his eyes fixed on her.
"Am sorry master. I thought since she looks like . . ."
"Leave us . . . please," said Cain with finality.
She bowed and walked out silently. Kitsune's eyes followed her as she excited, she felt slightly betrayed and nervously looked at Cain. What was she supposed to do? And why had it had to be her?
"Come here,"
Hesitantly, she paused to gather courage, then walked over. Standing in front of him, she could see through the dim light the cuts on his body, the bruise on his cheek like someone had smacked his jaw hard, the cuts on his face and so on. Her eyes were drawn to his short dark hair that seemed to glisten, it looked soft, and she felt compelled to touch it.
"Uuum," she begun nervously, ". . . you can't blame Gabriel. She was only worried about you, and I can see why."
"I don't . . ." he said raising his head to look up at her.
"She told me to bandage your wounds at least," she said looking away.
Something about his gaze made her break eye contact almost immediately with him. She tried to reach for the first aid kit beside his bed but he caught her hand.
"Am fine," he said.
"No . . . you're not," she said pulling her hand away from his then picking up the first aid kit.
She took the bandages and unwrapped them. She then pulled his hand and carefully began wrapping it around it. She noted his body was stiff, intricate muscle layers all over, she could not manage to be so gentle. She only hoped he was not hurting. There was a prolonged silence as she worked.
"Have you done this before?" asked Cain "You're just so good at it."
"Yes . . . I was in the scout."
As he turned his back to her, she noticed a rhythmic beat on his upper back. Her hand settled on the spot, and she could feel the movement. It was familiar.
"That is my heart," he said.
She instantly withdrew her hand and backed away slightly. A heart? What was it doing on his back? What did I touch? She wondered.
"It's okay you can touch it I don't mind," he said.
"I was just startled, how do you have a heart on your back?"
"Higher beings like me have two hearts, that's why we are generally stronger than humans, physically," he said.
He turned to her and took her hand. He pulled it closer to her chest. His skin was a bit cold, and she could feel the temperature difference. After a moment she felt another beat on his chest. It was like a quadruple beat.
"You mustn't forget I am not a human being," he said, there was a momentary pause, then he added, " Kitsune, your hands are warm."
She felt his grip slightly tighten and he pulled her closer to him. She gasped. His grip was firm but at the same time gentle. His eyes, however, seemed to look into a distance beyond her. Their faces were so close that she was afraid that he would kiss her.
The roll of bandage on her hand then dropped and this seemed to remove him from his trance, and he let her go.
"Sorry, I . . ." he said looking away.
"It's no problem," she said. Followed by a short silence.
"You should leave," he said curtly.
"Okay." At the door she turned to him, she was about to say something but decided against it.
Walking out she was mortified. Her heart pounded as she wondered, did she want Cain to kiss her?
"You dummy!" she said.
* * *
Kitsune looked out the window of her classroom. A week since she had been over to see Cain. She vividly recalled how he pulled her. Her face flushed red, and she had to cover it. However, since then she has not seen nor heard from him. They frequently talked with Gabriel over the phone but that was it.
She had a lot of questions to ask. Where did he get all those cuts and bruises? Whom did he fight? Was he going to be okay? These questions bombarded her scalp. She was worried.
Her worries were cut short when the homeroom teacher Mr. Hayato walked in. The classroom was still noisy, and the students chattered away.
"Silence," he tried to say.
He threw a piece of chalk into the crowed at no one in particular drawing the student's attention.
"I said silence!" the class went quiet.
Sternly he looked at them. Among the students there were giggles. It was a common occurrence for Mr. Hayato to lose his cool and lose his chalk.
"Alright students, I have a special announcement. You can come in?"
The door was dragged open. In walked a familiar face to the crowd, Adam. He walked to the front and bowed. Kitsune stood up drawing the attention of the class. The class was in an uproar as the students began talking in their groups.
"Silence! You sit down! Why can't you just shut it!" he lost another chalk. "Adam was sick, he has recovered now, he may still be sick, please go easy on him as he resettles down."
At the rooftop, during the lunch break, Kitsune invited Adam over for a little chat.
"What games are you trying to pull?" she asked.
"I am not trying anything, honest, I should know better."
"Then why are you at my school, is this a way of saying "I know where you live"?"
"It's not, this is my school too."
"Let me say this as a pre-warning if try and pull anything against me or my friends, I will call him, and I will let him kill you."
"I understand, but please lend me an ear. I would like to talk to him, that's all. You could let him know that right?"
"Why would I do you this favor when you tried to kill me?"
"I was wrong . . . " he said, "I shouldn't have tried to kill you? I am sorry."
He said bowing at a full ninety degrees. He closed his eyes. His tone was remorseful.
"Ok fine," she said.
"Really?" he asked excited as well as surprised.
"But after school. After this, you and I don't know each other."
"Thank you so much you are kind, thank you," he said visibly excited and bowing severally.
"Just stop doing that," she said walking away.
* * *
Cain looked around at the people who mindlessly walked around. He was still fascinated by the huge structures. Even after three months in the world all of that still felt unreal. He was glad it was not the city since he preferred to be in less crowded areas, he however still slightly drew the attention of the people as he walked.
He stopped at a park. His attention was drawn by the sight of some children playing, for some reason, he stopped his eyes glued to the sight. They triggered a memory from his childhood. He was playing with his brothers.
"Cain," Came a feminine voice.
He turned to face Kitsune who awkwardly held her bag. Her face went red as their sight met. His eyes turned to the young Adam and Akira beside her. Without notice, Akira ran over and hugged him.
"Big Bro . . ." she said.
"Big Broo? Where did that come from? How are you two so casual." Asked Kitsune.
"Oh, . . . Cain and I play games like every week after we went to his house,"
"I see, am not jealous or anything, you can play with whomever you want," she said with puffed cheeks.
Akira looked at her, then up at Cain and noticed their eyes did not meet.
"Are you two like fighting?" she asked.
"No, we are not fighting!" said Kitsune defensively, "right?" She referred to Cain.
"Right!"
"Well ok,"
". . . could young Adam be the reason why you called me here today," asked Cain turning to Adam quickly.
"Yeah, he said he wanted to talk to you."
"I see," Cain turned to Akira, "You said you wanted that new game, right?"
"Yup! Yup!" said Akira with obvious enthusiasm.
"Well," here said Cain giving her his credit card, "I've decided to buy it for you, Kitsune, why don't you accompany her?"
"Really? Tsune lets go before he changes his mind,"
Kitsune understood the message. She looked at Cain a bit sourer but complied anyway. She followed Akira masking her disappointment. What was Cain trying to keep her away from?
Adam nervously watched as they walked away, he for some reason felt that his only sense of security was walking away. Cain leaned on the rails and his face had a serious expression. The softness earlier had waned away, and, at that moment, he understood that maybe it may have been a bad idea to go to that place.
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you," said Cain, "but right now you are risking your life, if touch one hair on Tsune or Aki's head, I will make you wish you were dead."
His tone was intimidating, Adam realized, that all the while Cain had been holding back his blood lust, whenever Kitsune or Akira was present it was like he swallowed the trade. There was an uncomfortable feeling in the area, which made people stop and look up. After a moment his face softened.
"Anyway, did you need my help?" he asked quickly reverting to his calm demeanor.
"As you can see, I am an outcast, if "The Oder" found out about me I would be executed. But I don't mind that, I have a dream of my own I want to accomplish before I die."
"Enlighten me," said Cain.
"I . . . I want to be a superhero," as he said this his cheeks flushed red.
Cain tried to hold back the titter but failed. He burst out into a laugh, Adam looked at him his face completely red and nervous. His body trembled and tried to hold back slightly drawing the attention of passers - by.
"Please don't laugh Mr. Cain," he said.
Cain rubbed his hair.
"You know something Adam, I like you, how old are you."
"Seventy-five Sir,"
"Ahh . . . you're still young. Not many people can make me laugh like this."
"As I was saying Mr. Cain, would you be willing to teach me how to fight? I want to be strong enough and save as many people as I can."
"You know what, sure I'll teach you a few things but in exchange . . . I want to talk with your master."
"I can arrange that," he said.
"Maybe I'll be the teacher of one of the Greatest heroes of the future, so from now just call me Teacher, okay?"
"Yes Teacher," said Adam.
"And, what you said to me today, don't forget it, it is admirable to want to be a Hero,"
Just then a ball hit Cain on the leg. He turned and saw a kid staring nervously at him. Some boys nervously ran over to him, he kicked the ball slightly and it rolled to them. They smiled happily as they ran off with it. He smiled as he watched them.
"Kids," he murmured.
"Teacher, should we check on the girls, they seem to be taking long."
"You're right and knowing Akira she must be shopping me broke."
Just as they were about to walk away Akira and Kitsune called them. Kitsune was carrying three shopping bags and Akira two.
"Wow your credit card has a magnificent feature," said Kitsune sarcastically.
"Yeah, tell them," Akira added.
"Yup . . . no matter what we bought the balance remained the same, it's like magic."
An evil grin formed on Kitsune's face.
"We had to test it out and bought a few more things just to be sure,"
"But it seems you didn't overspend," said Cain looking at their rather small shopping bags.
"Oh these, these are just the souvenirs, the real items are online, they should be delivered to our homes by tonight?"
"Wait what?" asked Cain stopping.