Deadly One

Chapter XXVI: Secret Identity Time (Edited)

Emiko felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist, and a head nestled into the crook of her neck. She sighed, turning off the stove and looking down over her shoulder to see the red hair she'd grown accustomed to.

"G'mornin" Karma greeted, his morning voice deep and resonant.

"It's about time you got used," though she had no facial expression, her voice had a teasing lilt.

"I had no choice, school starts soon" He let go of her, standing to his full height as he stretched, his voice still thick with sleep. "I had a strange dream, you know"

"Interesting" she muttered sarcastically as she poured herself a glass of milk.

"You don't want to know?" though his tone was playful, there was a slight sense of a serious undertone

Emiko rolled her eyes as she turned to face him, "Enlighten me"

"Well, we kissed" he stepped closer, a playful smirk on his lips as he placed his hands on the counter, successfully trapping her within his arms. "First, it went like this—" He leaned in, but Emiko placed her hand between them, making him to kiss her palm instead

"I don't suppose I should tell you it happened then?" She maintained her composure, despite her cheeks flushing ever so slightly

Karma's face matched his hair as he faltered, not expecting her to be so direct with it, "Wh-what?"

"Oh, I guess I told you anyway. Oops," she shrugged nonchalantly. "Now hurry up and eat, I'll leave without you"

"Rude" He pouted as he sat down to eat, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes.

As Karma ate, Emiko got his bag ready for the day and pulled on her cloak and bandana. When he finished, he quickly slipped on his shoes and turned to her.

"On another note, does this make us a—"

"I don't know," she interrupted, her gaze steady. "I'm not meant to love. I'm just an empty can."

"That's not true," He protested, stepping closer. She looked away.

"I know it might be confusing for you to understand. But I don't know if I could"

"Then make me understand" He looked at her, wanting to hear her reasoning. What could possibly be wrong that she was so hesitant about them?

"If any of my enemies found out about you.. they'd hurt you to get to me," Emiko said, taking his hand in hers. "That's why I never wanted to get to know you. I knew that if I did like someone, I'd just put them in danger."

"They wouldn't hurt me," He insisted.

"Karma, I know you can fight for yourself, but there are so many people stronger than you, and most of the time they fight in groups. It's not like whatever you've faced in the past, these people fight dirty and will do anything to win the upper hand. If I'm not there—" He cut her off by pressing his lips to hers

"I'll be fine, Emi," Karma whispered, his forehead resting against hers.

Emiko cleared her throat and stepped away. "Let's just go."

Karma watched the back of her head as she walked away, his lips pressed into a thin line.

---

After walking Karma to school, Emiko had left during the day to complete a few commissions. Soon the midafternoon had rolled around and she had arrived back at the 3E building to bring Karma the lunch he'd forgotten to make that morning- the only thing was the situation that she'd arrived to.