Tears of the Clueless

A Kind Soul

After the truth had finally been spilt, my tears had dried. I instead began singing sad songs I knew to pass the time.

So, for the past twenty days since my father's arrest, I've sang.

I sang all kinds of songs, but one I sang most often was Open Wounds, by Skillet, an American band.

"Downstairs, the enemy sleeps.
Leaving the tv on.
Watching all the dreams we had.
Turn to static.

I would rather rot alone
Than spend a minute
With you.
I'm gone
I'm gone.

And you can't stop me from falling apart.
Cause my self destruction is
All your fault.

How could you
How could you
How could you hate me?
When all I ever wanted
To be was you.

How could you
How could you
How could you love me?
When all you ever gave me
Were open wounds......."

"That was lovely," a soft voice said. I jumped and turned to look at the man who had spoken.

He had long white hair and soft dark eyes. He wore robes and had twin swords at his sides.

For some reason, I couldn't find the energy to yell at him. I just stared at him.

"Are you going to try and purge the evil from me too?" I asked bitterly. "Quick heads up, holy water doesn't work and neither do chants. Or are you another monster. Fair warning, the last one died cause I'm apparently a toxin."

"I'm not here for that," he said softly. He approached me and I watched as he maneuvered the chains, getting closer. "You have a beautiful voice."

"Thank you," I said dully. "Who are you? Why are you here?"

He smiled warmly. "My name is Jushiro Ukitake. I'm here because I was making sure nothing out of the ordinary was around town and I heard your voice. It was a lovely song, but a bit sad, don't you think?"

"I think I have the right to sing depressing songs if I want to," I said rudely, turning away from him.

"What did I do to deserve the cold shoulder?" He asked innocently.

"My whole ghostly body is cold, therefore everybody gets the cold shoulder from me, intentional or non."

He chuckled. "Fair enough."

He sat down beside me and looked at the chalk outline sadly.

"So young, yet already finished with the mortal world," he said softly.

"Yeah, well, you can blame my dad for that," I grumbled. "He's the one who killed me. He deserves more than just a lifetime in jail."

Jushiro looked at me sadly.

"I bet you weren't always this bitter," he said. "Why don't you sing a happy song for me?"

"Why should I?" I demanded.

"I don't know," he shrugged. "Why shouldn't you?"

I couldn't find a response, so I mumbled. "I don't now any happy songs...."

"Well, just any song then."

I hummed.

"Sometimes I get so weird
I even freak myself out.
I laugh myself to sleep.
It's my~ lul~liby~~

Sometimes I drive so fast
Just to feel the danger.
I want to scream
It makes me feel alive

Is it enough to love?
Is it enough to breathe?
Somebody rip my heart out
And leave me here to bleed.

Is it enough to die
Somebody save my life!
I'd rather be anything but ordinary please....

I'd rather be anything but ordinary please..."

He clapped, smiling. "Beautiful! Absolutely wonderful!"

I'd have blushed if I had my body.

"Thank you..."

"Do you know anything else?"

"I don't know...."

"One more, please?"

I thought and I thought. "I'm sorry, I can't remember any more..."

And I really was sorry. This man was so kind, even when I was so cold.

No pun intended.

"Don't worry about it," he assured. "You can sing it to me when you do. But now, I think we should get moving, don't you?"

"Moving?" I repeated sadly. "You're leaving?"

"We," he corrected. "Come on, up, up."

I got up and he put his hand on my shoulder.

"I can't leave," I mumbled. "I'm trapped here."

"If you'll agree, I can take you somewhere where you'll be safe," he said. "Somewhere you can be happy."

"How?" I asked in awe.

"I'm a shinigami," he smiled. "Will you come with me?"

I nodded quickly, eager to escape this place.

He smiled and opened a doorway of light.

We both walked through.