Sinner [Suoh Mikoto]

➳ Gluttony

❝I know that there are will-o'-the-wisps that lead the
wayfarer to perish at night❞

          Things got a lot better in the next few months. To my surprise and delight, I was not kicked out of the bar that day. Instead, I got a new tattoo that identified me as a member of HOMRA. I must admit, though, that I almost turned away when the Red King told me, with a smirk, that if I wanted to join them I had to accept his hand wrapped in flames. 

          For Slate's sake! What kind of idiot would stick his hand in the fire? Okay, I might have been that kind of idiot, but that's not the point. Couldn't they have had a contract or something that didn't involve the possibility of being charred in the process? 

          Getting back to the important thing, for some wonderful and unknown reason, the flames didn't burn me and I was able to get the power I craved so much. Besides, that wasn't the only thing I got. I also got a 'family' that always protected me. The irony, isn't it? At the same time that I gained the power to stand up for myself, I also acquired a handful of bodyguards. Rare were the occasions when I would walk down the streets alone. Usually, I was always accompanied by one or two clansmen to make sure nothing happened to me on the way home, even though it was not necessary anymore. Not since that day.

          That first night as a HOMRA clansman, the one in charge of escorting me home was Yata. At first, everyone wanted to accompany me to see where I lived. However, when Anna arrived at the bar and saw me, she ran to lock herself in her room, not before first saying 'I hate you' to me. I admit that it hurt. Okay, my reasons for joining HOMRA may not have been the purest and most correct, but.... from that to hating me? It seemed a bit over the top to me. 

          I felt as if I had done something wrong to upset the little red-eyed girl, so I decided to leave on my own. I had barely taken a couple of steps when the red-haired skater —his cheeks the same shade as his hair— informed me between stutters that he would be escorting me home. I could tell he was not at all happy about having to be my bodyguard since my proximity made him so nervous. Still, I appreciated the gesture and accepted his company.

          We walked down the road, practically silent. He was too embarrassed to start a conversation, and I didn't feel like talking. It was when I took the keys out of the doorway that it happened. One of my neighbors opened the door from the other side with force, making me fall backwards. Luckily for me, Yata caught me before I could hit the ground and, after steadying me, he started yelling at the guy. 

          I guess because Yata was still blushing, the boy didn't take him too seriously at first. You should have seen the look on his face when, angry that the boy hadn't apologized to me, Yata let out his aura and said 'Nobody messes with HOMRA'. The poor guy ran away without looking back. 

          From that day on, word spread that I was under the protection of the red clan, and no one ever threatened or intimidated any of my acquaintances.

────── ⋅⋆✾⋆⋅ ──────

          “Another one, please.”

          Izumo arched an eyebrow upon hearing me. I had already lost count of how many drinks I had had. However, I needed more, I needed to forget about everything for a while.

          “You shouldn't drink any more; you've already downed almost a whole bottle.”

          “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

          Why would I stop? There was nothing else I could do. I felt helpless and angry with myself. How could I have confused my own feelings so much?

          Everything was fine; everything was perfect. I had been dating an amazing guy for the past month. The kind of guy that everyone would call Prince Charming. Tall, coppery brown, green eyes, athletic.... He was a real sight for sore eyes and not only that. He was also kind, attentive, and charismatic. A stranger to gangs, with a good job and a respectable position. He always made sure I was comfortable and tried his best to make me happy. He was every woman's dream. Why did it have to end like this? Why couldn't my stupid heart settle for him?

          That day, I had no choice but to accept that it was not him who I wanted. It wasn't his green eyes I wanted to see or his coppery hair, but the golden eyes of my king and his fiery red hair. I had deluded myself, trying to believe that I could be happy with another man, trying to believe that I could fall in love with someone else. But my illusion was shattered the moment when, as he kissed me, the name that came out of my lips was not his but Mikoto's.

           “Oh, come on, hic!zumo. If you don't serve it to me, I'm going to…hic!... get in the bar and get it myself.”

          I guess my hiccups weren't helping too much in my attempt to convince the blond bartender that I was okay. However, Izumo sighed and refilled my glass once more, warning me that it would be the last time.

          With a smile, I took the glass and let the contents slide down my throat. I was aware that alcohol didn't solve anything, but in my intoxicated state I felt much better. Nothing mattered. Everything seemed to have faded into the background. At least, until someone snatched the glass from my hands and tossed it on the floor.

          Before I turned around, I knew who it was. There was only one person Izumo didn't kill on the spot for breaking something in his bar. Indeed, Suoh Mikoto himself was standing behind me, glaring at me.

          “Hey, Mik'hic!'oto. That was mine!”, I pouted.

          “You've already had too much to drink. You should go home. Come on, I'll walk you.”

          I wanted to refuse and keep drinking, but I was unable to say no to those golden eyes I loved so much. Resigned, I got up from my seat and —like all good drunkards— I tripped over something invisible and probably non-existent and fell. Mikoto stopped my fall just inches from the ground while I laughed uncontrollably. I'm sure I looked pathetic at the time, but the alcohol was dominating my actions and telling me that the best I could do was to laugh. Nothing else mattered.

Second sin: gluttony.