The Secrets We Hide (VERY OLD)

Chapter 1

Hikari's POV December 4th, 2026

An Odd Meeting

"One cinnamon muffin, please," I said to the young woman standing behind the counter.

I had just got done with school for the day and had decided to stop at the bakery on the way home since I was hungry. I knew it wouldn't take long because I'd been here so many times before.

"Here you go." The woman suddenly said, handing me my muffin in a small paper bag with the bakery's logo on it.

"Enjoy! Have a nice day."

"Thanks, you too," I said back to her as I turned to leave the store. Walking outside, I took out the muffin and took a bite. Delicious Flavors flooded my mouth, that bakery somehow always seems to produce better tasting foods every time I went. I paused at a garbage can to throw away the paper bag. I continued to walk and ended up finishing my muffin quickly. I was only a couple of blocks away from my house, I wasn't looking where I was going when I bumped into this weird guy, He came in front of me and spread his wings blocking my path. He had to be at least 9'10. He had white fluffy hair that was overly messy, he looked like he had just run a marathon or something. He also had curled ram-like horns on his head and small winged ears. He had four knives on his waist and a gun on each hip. Along with it, he wore a suit with an odd sweater-like jacket over the top of it, only showing the tie.

"I need you to hide me." He said, He breathed heavily as he looked around. He seemed uneasy

"Well, where am I supposed to hide you?" I responded.

"Your house." He said harshly. Yet regret was laced within his tone

"May I ask why I need to hide you?"

"I can explain once you get me hidden." He said as he flared his wings, Clearly getting annoyed.

"I live a couple of blocks away, it's gonna be a while."

"That's fine, just jog, as quickly as possible."

He grabbed a knife from his waist, holding it tightly in his right hand before ushering me to lead the way.

_________<*>__________

"Here," I said as we approached my small house.

I reached into my school bag and grabbed the house key. I unlocked the door and we Proceeded to go inside inside.

"Care to explain why I need to hide you now?"

I asked while taking off my shoes at the door.

"Is anybody else in this house?"

"No, I live alone," I replied, "Now, please explain why I need to hide you."

"Is there a table anywhere? Also, curious why you haven't even questioned why the fuck I have multiple weapons." He replied back smirking.

"I figured the reason why I needed to hide you was linked to that reason, so I didn't bother asking."

The dude groaned, sheathing his knife.

"Table."

"Over there."

I pointed towards my small kitchen area that had a small table that could seat two people.

We both walked over to the table, sitting down. He placed his bag on the table, taking out a dragon fruit as he sighed.

"This is one of the reasons why I was being chased by cops."

I looked at him with a very unimpressed look.

"Why? Out of all the things you could have stolen, you chose a dragon fruit."

"I thought that it would be funny if I threw it at someone."

He laughed lightly before covering it with a cough.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"Hikari, yours?"

"Ketsueki."

"Anyway," I said.

"You said that the dragon fruit was only one of the reasons why you were getting chased, so do you mind telling me the other reasons why you were getting chased?"

"What day is it?" He asked.

I assumed that he was trying to change the subject, and if he was he clearly wasn't very good at it.

"December 4th, why do you ask?"

"I just needed to know, but anyway if you really need to know the other reasons, it was because I killed this random dude. Do you have any liquor?" He asked after the statement, leaning back in his chair with a frown. He was clearly bored of the conversation.

"I'm sixteen, why would I own any alcohol?" I replied.

I decided to take the opportunity to ask this random stranger who is in my house how old he is.

"By the way, may I ask how old you are?"

I assumed that he was at least 21 because he was asking for alcohol.

"Seventeen." He picked up his phone, dialing a number quickly.

"Bring over the usual, 3 full bottles this time, alright?" He paused for a moment. "Red wine, I'll send the location, be here fast." He said while quickly hanging up the phone, and then sending a quick text before setting his phone back down again.

I just stared at him, not knowing what to say.

"You want some beer or something?" He said while he pulled out a cigarette box and a lighter. He grabbed a cigar from it and lit it.

"I can call back if you'd like."

I shook my head in refusal.

He grumbled something before taking a hit of the cigarette. A sudden ding sounded from the door. Ketsueki quickly stood up and started walking quickly to the door. He opened it, picking up three bottles and a few glasses with a grin. He walked back over to the table, setting down all of it.

"Open one bottle, will you kid?"

He smiled lightly before walking into the kitchen looking for something.

"Uhm, what are you doing?" I asked while opening his bottle.

"Looking for fruit and soda, do you have any?" He asked while leaning his head to the left, his hair falling to the side, showing his eye.

I stared at his exposed eye, it was a beautiful shade of green. A long faded scar rested over it tinted the eye a light hazy white. It seemed unfocused yet it felt like it was watching my every movement. His eyes also seemed so regretful and angry. I quickly became jealous of his pretty eyes, why couldn't my eyes be that pretty? I'm stuck with my stupid different colored eyes, making me look like a freak.

I realized that I had been staring at his eye for too long and started to process his question.

"Oh yea, somewhere, I forgot where though."

He nodded quickly, finding a sprite and a few cherries in a few minutes. He mixed both things before handing it to me. He then poured himself a glass of the bottle he had told me to open, it was a deep red wine.

"Tell me about yourself, Hikari."

_________<*>_________

Ketsueki ended up passing out on my couch. I have never had another male human being inside my house, let alone have one fall asleep on my couch. I walked into the small and cramped living room, holding a water bottle in my hand. I stared at his sleeping body for a bit and then decided to walk over to him. I set my water bottle down onto the side table next to the couch and stared closely at his face. I slowly started to move my hand towards his long and messy bangs and gently brushed the hair off to the side, revealing a single shut-eye of his. I stared at it for a while, and then realized how much of a creep I had been acting like, so I grabbed my water bottle and walked into my bedroom.