Awaited Encounter

Part 26

A few hours earlier

A dim yellow candle illuminated the room I kept myself captive in. I rocked my body back and forth, gripping the sides of my borrowed shirt. From the footsteps retreating, I knew my sister has finally left the other side of her door.

Her room has been my cage for a while now. Ai has begged me to leave the area so we could talk but I refused. I felt bad for taking over her office, but I couldn't help it, I can't face anyone right now. In the span of a month, I've gotten my best friend attacked twice. Now all I can hope is that my isolation brings the others peace.

The unknown number hasn't texted me since his last request. Breaking up with Akashi.

No matter how much I think about it, I can't get rid of the guilt squeezing my chest. I did it for his sake, but the drop of Akashi's expression when I delivered the new still haunts me. I exhaled, taking in the scent the melting candle gave off.

Peeking up from the ball I tucked myself in, I stared at the mountain of papers on my sister's desk. To take my mind off my current situation, I decided to stand up and organize her room. Ai has never been organized, nor has she ever tried.

She used to tell our mom that her 'mess' was organized her own way. Then proceeded to lose everything including homework and other important items.

Sliding my finger across the small space of the desk that wasn't covered, I took a seat in her office chair. I rolled up my sleeves and pulled out the cramped papers from her cabinets and drawers. Half the folders I found were labeled with dates from the past five years.

"She'll never change." My statement cut off in a huff as I moved around the papers. Putting them neatly in her homemade filing system, which was no doubt made by her husband.

When sorting the last pile, one vanilla folder seemed more tattered than the rest. Pulling the record out of the rest, I left aside and continued.

A sigh left me when I could finally see near half of the surface of my sisters' desk. But before continuing, I examined the dusted folder. Small fingerprints made an appearance on the ends of the file. Meaning Ai took it out recently to investigate it.

A cold case. That's the most reasonable explanation. Ai looks at them often to compare certain patterns of a current investigation to an old one.

I wiped the dust away with my palm and blew it off the frayed material. I know well enough to not touch classified documents, but a cold case is nothing to be worried about, right? Also, there is a small chance it could take my mind off Akashi and the others.

At least, that was my first thought. But when opening the folder, I was not expecting to see my name on the front page.

It was already too late; I couldn't stop my eyes from scanning the entire page. Then the next, and next until I was certain of what I was reading. My throat went drier with each mumble of comprehension that came off my lips.

With a blank stare, I neatly put the papers back into the vanilla case. I tucked the folder by my side, my head tilted downwards as I headed for the door.

My legs shook slightly, toes curling involuntarily. The click of the lock keeping me away from the outside world caused my teeth to latch onto my lip. No one was in front of the door when I first came out, but they soon flooded in the hallways when they heard my footsteps echo.

I tried my hardest to focus on my own footing, but I ended up stumbling when it came to the stairs. Smaller hands gripped my shoulder, it made it harder to move forward. I snapped my head around; I saw Meg staring at me with her deep golden eyes.

There was a mix of regret and hope in her eyes; but the hope was extinguished when she saw the empty look in my own. "Kou."

Hurried footsteps followed from the call of my name. This time the person was in front of me. Ai stared up at me from the bottom of the steps, a loopy smile quivering on her lips. My elder sister looked broken and exhausted.

Her hair was hastily put together, loose pieces flying different ways. A thin white sweater covered her body, along with dark sweatpants to keep her frame warm. The bags under her eyes were faded in a dark purple, but she continued to give me a weak smile. Her delicate hand reaches out of my cheek, saying my name in the smooth and nurturing way she always said It.

But the fingers stopped midway. They curled somewhat before trembling in midair. That's when her eyes flicked to the folder in hand, causing her expression to drop.

No words left her; they were swallowed down along with the guilt consuming her. My empty stare scanned her as she shook in place, my own fingers tightly clasping the documents she spent years hiding from me.

Meg's hand fell from my shoulder when she saw Ai's expression change. I took this time to take a step forward, my older sister jumped when my hand pressed against her wrist. My fingers carefully pushed hers away before stepping around her and leaving out the front door.

I closed the door behind me, only for the harsh cold to greet me. I patted my pockets, grateful that I still hand my keys in my pocket.

Before entering my car, the front door to Ai's house swung open. Meg came running out in only her pajamas. Sadly, by the time she came to the driveway, I was driving down the street.

I could hear her screaming my name, even though it was the middle of the night. Her last yelled cracked into a spew of coughs, but I could picture her face already. Even so, I kept driving on. Which is how I ended up in front of my best friend, my hand around his neck and papers scattered on the ground.

Kuro's eyes softened on my cold ones. His hands fell to his side as a sign of letting go. I could see his lips quiver around his next words, "I'm sorry." My childhood friend's damage eyes squinted as his pale lips tried to stretch into a sad excuse of a smile. "I'm so sorry Koutarou." The statement made a tight pain reverberate in my head as my hands released him.

The raven took in deep breaths from the release of pressure. His hands found his neck, flinching at the bruised skin. My head fell as he tried to recollect himself, my teeth grinding against one another. I wanted to scream, yell, and curse at him. But in the end, with all the anger I had in me I cried...

My knees gave in. The fall of my body made Kuro rush towards me, but I swatted his hands away. "Why did you hide this from me." I squeezed out, shutting my eyes as a failed attempt to keep the tears at bay.

Kuro reached his hand out again, lightly placing it on my back before trying to pull me closer to him. His body heat welcomed me in as he laid his head on top of mine. My damp hair smeared against my cheek, becoming trapped between me and my best friend's chest.

I know my best friend could feel me shaking under him but knowing him... he didn't care. "I do know you, right?" I uttered under my breath. Kuro readjusted himself against me before shrugging, "will my answer change the fact I lied to you for so many years."

His words sounded more like a statement then a question, but I answered anyways. "Yes."

"Then yes. You know me better then anyone else, always have."

A moment of silence past between the two of us. I took the time to calm down and slowly let the tenseness leave my body. "Then can you tell me what really happened on that day... the day I lost my memory. I trust you enough to tell me the truth... depending on what you say is how our friendship will be moving forward."

Kuro let out a small sigh, picking up his head as I shifted to face him. "Ok... it happened a decade ago."

~

Sorry that I have been gone.