I got up after my father left. I didn't really have it in me to get up and move on after what just happened, but I stood up anyway. My legs could barely keep me up, my limbs are covered in blood and bruises.
I can no longer feel the pain, he got bored of beating me and left, I guess I wasn't enough to entertain him. Ryu appeared again and I looked at him. His face was hard to read, he looked sad and angry and he somehow seemed unbothered too.
He walked closer to me, not saying a single word. He looked me up and down, with a cold look. "You look like shit." He said, teasingly. Why did he say that? And why didn't he try to save me? "Leave me alone Ryu," I spoke, coldly. Ryu was the last person I wanted to see right now.
I finally managed to stand up straight, after falling over multiple times. But just when I thought I got the hang of it, my legs gave out and I fell face first, right in front of him.
There was a short deafening silence and then he burst out laughing, before realizing the gravity of the situation he was laughing about and helping me up. Great, this is exactly what I needed this evening.
We sat on my bed, an annoyed angry look on my face. "Oh come on, I said I'm sorry..." He pleaded for me to forgive him. I was facing the other direction, refusing to look at him. "Hanako..." He sighed, folding his arms, an evil smirk forming on his face. "Fine then, I'm leaving." He said getting up and walking forward a bit.
I looked at him. I didn't really want him to leave, his company made me feel safe and less alone. Even though he's barely helping me, I still appreciate him being around and keeping me company.
I instinctively held his wrist before he could go too far, I didn't know why I did that. He looked back, my eyes were filling up with tears again. The stinging pain of my injuries came back all of a sudden. He smiled at me grabbing my hand and pulling me up to stand on my feet.
My eyes widened at his sudden gesture. "I'm sorry for laughing at you..." He said scratching the back of his neck. I knew he didn't really mean it but I nodded anyway, accepting his insincere apology.
We were still holding hands, his felt warmer and stronger than mine. I've never held hands with anyone like this before, not even with my friend Hina. I felt comfortable again, even after all this. I felt the same comfort that I felt when he held me in his arms earlier. "Fine, come here," he said before pulling me for a hug.
I sobbed I let myself cry again. I wondered when my eyes will run out of tears to shed. I hated showing him my vulnerable side, I hated giving him something to tease me for. I had no choice.
He put his hand on my head and started petting my head soothingly while be put wrapped his other arm around my waist and wrapping his wings around us, I closed my eyes and let myself drift off in his embrace.
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Me and Ryu arrived at class the next day. I don't remember much of last night. What I do remember is that I've probably had the best sleep I've had in months.
The classroom was quiet, and loud at the same time. Whispers and gossip can be heard in the background. I didn't care to cover or hide any of my bruises and injuries from last night so that was probably the reason.
We walked to our tables in the back and I gasped quietly when I finally got there. My eyes scanned the table and chair, there were words plastered on every corner of them, words like 'weak' or 'rat' or 'ugly' were covering every inch of my table and I was just about done with this damn school.
Ryu noticed my reaction and suddenly pushed me aside, casually taking my spot and sitting in my desk. " Sit here" He patted the chair right next to him, his chair. "Why?" I asked, visibly confused.
He gave me a side glare and repeated again "Sit Hanako." I sat next to him and my legs start shaking, I was nervous. Nervous of people's judgment and words. I look around the classroom and noticed everyone staring at us.
Ryu sat near the window, he ignored the world around him and stared blankly at the sky and trees outside. I was caught off guard for a moment when a group of girls started to walk towards us, I noticed how pretty they were.
Their skins were clear, their eyelashes were long and their makeup was flawless. They stood over our tables and one of them cleared their throat loudly to get Ryu's attention. They were successful, he looked around at me and then looked at them with a confused look. "Good morning Ryu~" one of them spoke.
I noticed his inability to come up with a response quickly, so I spoke instead "Can...we help you?" I immediately regretted this decision. They burst out laughing, getting Ryu's attention once again. I put my head down, embarrassed. My legs started shaking even more, I tried putting my hands on my lap to stop them but to no avail.
Ryu seemed to notice my nervousness and suddenly grabbed my hand under the table in an attempt to comfort me. I looked at him, surprised. He immediately looked away and back to the group of annoying girls, still in their fit of meaningless laughter. "You talk?" One of them asked, continuing to laugh. My head was kept down, facing my hand that was intertwined with Ryu's.
He gave the girls a death stare and they stopped laughing. "You heard her, can we help?" He said coldly. They stood up straight again and turned around to walk away. "Sorry," one of the girls said nervously, walking away hand in hand with her friends.
I could have sworn she said something under her breath "Can't even get a guy's number with this bitch around...". They finally walked away and I sighed a sigh of relief. He let go of my hand under the table and put it on my head and my legs stopped shaking.
He smirked teasingly and I smiled at him brightly. The girls I could see from my peripheral vision were fuming with rage.
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After classes ended, Ryu insisted we go to the park. I couldn't say no to him, after all the help he has given me since the beginning of our friendship till this point. We sat down at a bench hidden in some trees. The park was empty and slightly dark, and I took that chance to pull out my medicine bag to take my endless amount of medication.
Ryu sat next to me, resting his elbows on his lap and looking out into the horizon. The view in front of us was beautiful, the sun was slowly setting and the trees were dancing slowly in the calm wind.
I took my first pill and almost spit it out when he asked "Are you not confused?" I was surprised by his sudden question. "Confused about what?" I asked, swallowing my pill. "Me" He paused and I looked at him, signaling for him to continue. "You don't know who I am and where I'm from, you don't know anything about me and my origins. Does that not bother you?" He added.
I let that question sink into my head, it's true. I don't know a single thing about him but I let him into my life like it's no big deal. "that's true, now I have so many questions". He smiles at me " I'll let you ask me a few questions, go on".
I took that opportunity to think about a few questions that bothered me the most. "Mmmm..." I hummed. "What are you exactly?" I asked innocently. He chuckled making me smile slightly, his laugh sounded sincere and joy-filled. "I'm exactly what I look like, a demon," he said casually.
I gasped, the past events somehow didn't convince me that he was anything but human, but this should be enough. He chuckled more and I asked again "Where do you live? Surely not here right?" He thought for a moment, maybe because the answer may shock me, and I was correct "There is a realm that only demons can visit, it's where I'm from" He paused to let his answer sink into my mind before adding "We go there to train and stuff"
"Wow," I say, my jaw dropping. I believed every word he said, I mean how can you not? After all, we've been through. He smiled widely "Last question?"
"Last?" I said in a disappointed tone. "Okay, you said you go there to train? Who trains you? Another demon?"
His eyes widened and his smile faded "Okay, I think that's all for me today." He stood up sighing after his words. "Wait, answer-" "Come on, get up. Let's go home," he said, cutting me off and walking away. "Wait! Slow down" I yelled and ran after him.
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Ryu Pov:
Hanako finally fell asleep, it didn't take long for her to do so too. I mean I let her run after me all afternoon with her weak body so it makes sense. She felt better today, I'm glad.
I walked up to the rooftop of her villa. I took a moment to look at the night sky, the stars don't shine here as much as they do in my home world. I sighed, tucking my hands in my pockets.
"I heard someone isn't doing his work properly "
What? Who was that? I looked around only to see ...him. "You scared me, w- what are you doing here?" Why did he ask me that? Does he know about me and Hanako? No, how would he know?
"Did I scare you? You look pale." He said a smile forming on his face. That smile, I hated it. How can he be so happy all the time? Why is he even here? "It's probably the moonlight," I explained.
He sighed looking at the moon, the smile not leaving his face. We stood there in silence watching the moon together. Thank God he doesn't know.