Help me Help you - A Togafuka story

[5]

     It had been a month since the confession and I was completely lost.

     You'd think I'd be content with the fact Toko and I were more than friends but I just couldn't shake the feeling I was in the wrong.

     I shouldn't be in love with her, it's just not right.

     I have been coming to her apartment on the daily these past few weeks and I could tell she didn't need help anymore.

     She was taking her medication, she was cleaning and cooking on her own, and she was even showering.

     But she wanted me to stay...

     She lied about being okay and told me she was still suffering greatly.

     I've played along for a while now but I had to admit it to her today. I couldn't stay, I needed to move on to a new client.

     I sucked in a deep breath as I knocked on her door.

    I got an immediate response from Toko who opened right up and gave me a big hug.

     "Byakuya! Welcome! I thought we could play board games today! I recently bought Clue online so I thought we could play it together. I know how much you adore mysteries."

     I couldn't deny the facts, she knew me well.

     I let myself be dragged inside and sat on the floor to play the game. But halfway through I couldn't take it anymore.

     "Toko, I need to talk to you." I sighed. She looked at me, confusion in her expression.

     "What's going on?" She held onto my hand gently

     "You're okay now, and I know you've been for a while now. You can cut the act...I've been pretending to play along."

     The girl looked offended for a moment and opened her mouth to say something, but quickly closed it.

     "I knew you'd caught on long ago...I just, wanted to have you to myself. I'm sorry for being so selfish." She hung her head.

     "I understand your motives, I really do want to stay...but I have a job I need to get back to." I frowned.

      "I get it, just leave me...I'd be too painful if I couldn't be with you as much as we're together now." She sniffled, tears starting to well up in her eyes...now duller than I've ever seen them.

"Toko, I'm quitting my job."

"W-what?!"

"I'm quitting! I don't want to be away from you either and i'd be much too difficult to leave you! I'm quitting, I'm quitting to be with you. Not as a client, as a partner.

"Byakuya, you don't have to quit! Just leave me! Don't risk your job over it!" She yelled.

"I've made my decision." I answered coldly.

"But what if I could find an alternative?" She smiled a slyly.

"And what could that be?"
_________________________________

I knocked on the door, a new person to help! It always filled me with confidence.

A teenage boy answered and mumbled a small hello.

I let walked into the house and introduced myself.

"Hi there, I'm Byakuya Togami and I'm here to help you." I shook the boy's hand. "And this...is my girlfri- erm assistant."

     "Hi! I'm Toko Fukawa, I used to be just like you bud."

     I smiled as the former shut in chatted with the boy.

     As much as Toko needed a little help from me, I needed just as much help from her.

THE END