-HIBIKI-
Who in their right mind would be walking out on the streets in the middle of the night? Me.
The streets of this area are always dark and gloomy. Only three streetlights are turned on, some are obviously broken down already. The moon is the only source of light that's actually helping me from seeing anything at all.
I've been walking for a while now and I can sense that someone's been following me. Even though I hate myself and actually already planned to die before thirty. I don't want to die right now.
Finally, I saw a store with open lights in the distance. It's a small thrift shop that I go to when I buy clothes. It's hidden from where people are always near so I think me and only some people know of it. I ran and hurried inside, I also heard the thing or the person following me ran to catch up.
"Good evening," The young lady that's always dressed in black greeted me while folding down a pink colored dress. She looks like she's mourning everyday with that outfit but it really fits her. She's a little taller than me, she's pale and she has very long dark hair.
"What's that?" I asked in curiosity. She doesn't really sell light colored clothing here in her shop. She only sells dark and white colored ones.
"A dress obviously," She sarcastically said while she stored the dress in a box and hid it under her desk. She sighed. "My parents are forcing me to wear this on my 18th birthday," Her ears turned red from embarrassment.
"You won't look good in that color," I replied without thinking. "You think I don't know that?" She shouted as if I'm a mile away from her. She quickly calmed herself and shooed me away.
I walked towards a section where shirts are in, looking around her shop full of different sets of clothing. It's definitely bigger on the inside. This shop has everything. From T-shirts, pants, cardigans, sweaters, jackets, you name it.
I stopped walking and checked out some plain jackets.
"Hibiki, are you sure you don't want my help. You always buy really plain ones. That's too bad cuz you're handsome," She complained while walking out of the counter. "This one, that one, this one.."
She continued on taking what looks like random stuff from around her store and handed it to me. After that, she ran back towards the counter and called me.
"Come now," She said while tapping her fingers. That was fast..
I walked towards her and put the clothes down.
"How much?" I asked. She sighed and looked at me up and down.
"You didn't even take a look at what I gave you. You really have no sense of style," She said in a deep voice. "Look at yourself. Um, yeah no."
She took me by the hand and led me towards a big mirror from the far right corner of the store.
"You're pale, you have white hair, skinny and overall a bottom figure."
"Excuse me?" I looked at her sharply but she just giggled and gave me a smile.
"That's a compliment, and you better take it," She turned her back on me and took a good look around her whole store. "I'm closing down the store Hibiki."
"Why?" Just a few weeks ago she was telling me that she's sure to get at least a few more customers to visit. I don't think it's what she sells but more about the location..
"Business is very slow.. my parents are rich and don't worry, all these clothing aren't going to waste. I'm giving it all away to my friends!" She said happily while showing me a T-shirt even though she has her back on me. "So right now, you better take everything you want from here," She turned a little too look at me, her smile turned upside down, her eyes closed and her hand on her chin. She looked at me again and turned her back on me.
"Actually no, I'll pick the ones you can have. I'll be quick, wait outside," She quickly ran towards the backroom and came back with a broom. "Here's a broom, um you know, cuz it's dangerous for pretty people to be outside at night," She sarcastically said with a wide smile. Before I knew it, I already got pushed outside with nothing but a broom in hand.
...
It's silent..
I sat down on a bench just outside the shop and looked at the moon that is being covered by clouds. Xyla Kaye Lavandine, the little miss store owner's name.
She's probably not the actual store owner due to her age but I consider her as one because she's always the only person there. She mentioned to me that her parents are rich but.. I don't know why she's here alone at a hidden store in a dangerous place.
Tsk
My thoughts came to a stop when I heard a sound coming from my left. Someone's sitting beside me. Left. But I can't just move yet since I don't know who it is.
The place where Xyla's shop is in are specifically very dangerous, thugs and gangs roam these areas. Probably also one of the reasons why Xyla gave me a broom. Why a broom though?
Without a second thought, I quickly held the broom with my right hand that's beside me, placing it on their left neck. While my other hand secured that the person's locked in place.
"Good evening," I calmly greeted. I locked them harder so as to not give them a chance to move. Looking at the person again. I noticed that they have blonde hair and a familiar black choker on their neck.
Realizing who it is, I quickly let him go.
"I don't think you meant it when you said good evening," He said in a sad tone. It's the boy that I bumped into before. Kaede mentioned his name. What was it?
Ah, Haruki.
"Haruki?" I stood up and hid the broom behind me. "Sorry."
"You know me? Ah yes, you were there. Kaede mentioned my name, yes?" He asked, his voice sounds friendly enough.
I replied with a nod. "Aren't you Hibiki?" I nodded once again. "Nice to meet you, again. I'm Hikaru. Kaede's.. let's just say friend," He said with a smile. Offering his hand right after. I accepted it.
He sat down at the bench and I sat down too. We're just sitting here looking at the moon. I sensed him stealing glances at me but I didn't ask him about it since if I did, it'll be awkward for him.
"What do you want from me?" I asked, breaking the silence. "You followed me here right? You're really bad at following someone."
He must be the one following me while I was walking here earlier.
"You're sharp," He laughed a little as he replied. "Well, nothing really, I just wanna get to know you."
"What do you really want?" I asked again, I might be too straight forward to people, I'm aware of that. But it's also the easiest way to get to the point.
Silence took over. He probably didn't expect that answer. "It's unusual for anyone to approach me just to get to know me."
"No, no. I really do," He quickly denied. "Well, maybe. But you see.." While he's saying something, I realized that he's already gripping both of my arms. "I need your help with somethin-"
"Get off him," A cold, soft voice of a girl interrupted.
Haruki's face looked shocked, just like I do. Right now, Xyla's holding a gun straight at Haruki's head while she's holding his arm. Things are happening too fast. I don't know what to do. I can't even utter a word to explain anything to her.
She took off Haruki's hands off of me, slowly walking in front of me to face him while still holding the gun at his face.
"Wow, this girl's already ready to mourn for my dead body," Haruki said as if he's taunting her. His emotionless face, illuminated by the moonlight.
"And away you go before I actually get ready to mourn for you," She repositioned her gun towards his body right after ordering him. Haruki just listened and turned his back on us as he walked away.
We watched as he slowly faded into the distance, he didn't even dare to look back. Not gonna lie, she looked cool with a gun. She stood confidently in front of me while her hair was being pushed away by the wind.
Xyla breathed out a sigh of relief and turned to look at me. "Hey are you okay? You aren't hurt are you?" For the first time, she sounds like she's genuinely concerned.
"Yes, I am fine," I comforted her by patting her head, ruining her veil that she perfectly put on, on her head.
"Hands off," She angrily shook her head while saying it again and again.
She noticed that I was staring at the gun in her hand and let out a giggle. She pointed it at me, urging me to close my eyes. The next thing I heard was just a click.
"It's a toy, silly," I opened my eyes just to see her laughing like a monkey. No, not a monkey. A gorilla. "The real thing's in my pocket," Her laughing face turned serious.
This girl's probably an escapee from a mental hospital because I really don't know when she's joking or being serious.
She entered the shop again and I followed her inside. There are thirteen large paper bags sitting at the counter. She faced me and looked at me with a soft smile.
"Here little Hibiki," She said as she took all the bags and handed it to me. "Take it, okay? I'll be gone and you won't see me here for a while. So would you do me a favour and at least look decent when I'm not around?"
She's still smiling but she sounds annoyed for some reason.
"Thanks a lot Xyla," I tried patting her again but she hit my hand, avoiding it. Seeing her annoyed is like seeing Kaede as a kid. He also hated it when I patted his head.
"Woah!" Xyla's loud voice exclaimed. "You're.. Hibiki you're laughing!"
I didn't even realize it but I guess I actually did based on her reaction. I wonder why? Well that's not really important right now.
"Well that's good enough of a farewell gift for me," She smiled at me softly. "Go on now, sooner or later the sun will rise."
She's definitely exaggerating but she probably wants me to leave already so she can start packing some stuff. I took a step outside the store and waved at Xyla, she waved back.
These paper bags are really heavy. I opened one as I walked and each one's a complete outfit, there's tops, shorts and pants, even belts and some other stuff that's not even clothing.
She's a good friend. We'll definitely meet again someday that's for sure.
⁰-⁰
I only walked till I finally reached my apartment. The sun's already rising and I can hear that the streets are already busy from all the honking.
I put down the paper bags in front of my apartment's doorstep, my hands are already red from carrying those heavy bags.
I don't even wanna bother changing clothes due to exhaustment and just headed towards my bedroom to lay down.
My eyes were already closing when I suddenly heard a faint sound.
Meow
Wait, how did a cat.. get here..