Golden Scars

Chapter Seven: You Can Only Hold Her

We as a trio have always been close. For a long time, it's always been me, Suguru and Takara since that fateful day we visited the Kubo estate. It used to be innocent, such as bathing together as children or falling asleep in the same bed huddled up together. But as we grew up, a rift began to form. Taking bathes together is out of the question at sixteen and the closest I can get to her while sleeping is by holding her small delicate hand under the covers; her fiancé holding her flush against his chest.

"You're lucky to even be this close to her." Suguru's cold voice cuts through the still silence.

I chuckle at this, "And you're lucky that I haven't put any moves on her...yet."

He opens his eyes as Takara continues to sleep, "While I'm not open to sharing Takara, I wouldn't mind having something on the side...with you that is."

A frown forms upon my lips as I consider the offer for a moment. Being with Suguru isn't something I am completely opposed to, he is good looking and we have good rapport but...that would come at the cost of greatly hurting someone dear to me. I shrug my shoulders, "And give her bratty little brother a chance to use our binding vow against me? Not a chance."

He stares at me, unamused with my response, "Well, it was worth a shot. You really aren't open to messing around?" His tone suggestive and alluring.

"The only way I would accept your offer is if I also get to be with Takara as well or at the very least get her blessing. Which you clearly don't have since we're whispering about this while she sleeps."

"Too bad, looks like I'll have to find my fun elsewhere."

Something within me starts to burn and before I can think better of it, I whisper to him, "While you get to hold her and be with her, that's all you're ever gonna get. You will never be able to fully love her, you can just hold her."

His dark brows shoot up, "Wow...I never took you for someone with ethics regarding relationships."

"Oh not at all, because the moment you fuck up..." I interlace my fingers with hers, "and get caught, I will be taking my chance with her."

An eery knowing smile graces his delicate lips, "You won't...because you're hopelessly in love with her. And that my friend is why you will never have her." 

"We'll see." I answer, confidence brimming within me.

"I suppose we will."

🔆🌻🔆🌼🔆🌻🔆

"Takara-chan! Are you on your way to give that report?" Toru excitedly stops me in the hallway leading to the principal's office. I nod, to which he offers, "Mind if I come with you?"

I don't mind, have you submitted your report yet? I ask, struggling to sign to him with my mission report tucked under my arm.

"Nope. I figured we should head in together since we were both on the mission." He grabs my papers with ease, "By the way mind coming with me to drop off some video rentals?" I nod in response. "Awesome! And Suguru is gonna be busy with cleaning up the classroom today. He said we don't have to wait on him."

I tilt my head and sign, Did he really say that?

"Yep. He told us not to wait on him." He confidently asserts again. 

Unable to find a reason for him to lie to me about something so trivial, I smile and sign, Then would you mind if I came over and see your sister?

"Sure, I bet Chōko would like that." He smiles gently; a very rare sight to see. We quickly find ourselves in front of the principal's office. His pale hand raises and gently raps against the door. "It's Kubo and Gojo, Sir."

"...Come in."

We push the heavy doors open and enter the meeting between two teenagers and the "higher ups" as Toru calls them. I stare blankly ahead. They want to see me whimpering and cowering before them, but I shall not let them see me as that. My family rides on me being a pillar of strength; I cannot show any more weakness than I already have. Toru hands over the papers to the Principal and glares at the shadows surrounding us. These weren't people of flesh and bone, they were shadows, mere mirages of a cowardly older generation. One that is weak and never to be trusted. I suddenly feel someone's knuckles brush against mine. That's right, I'm here with Toru. I return the subtle gesture, another form of our silent language.

"So can we leave now?" Toru asks impatiently.

"Kubo, why wasn't Geto there with you?" One of them asks me.

Then it all clicks. The choice of the cursed spirit and the fact that the higher ups allowed me to receive help. They are trying to make me slip up in front of Sugu and ruin our relationship. I keep my face neutral as I blankly stare ahead and sign, Gojo and I-

"Fuck, what is the mute saying?" One of them jeers.

I stare ahead and empty my heart. It doesn't bother me. It's just words, they mean nothing. I can- my dissociation is interrupted by Toru, "You old geezers are really fucking useless."

"Hold your tongue boy!" One of them bellows.

"I'll tell ya why we didn't bring Geto. It's because we decided that this mission was at most a three person job. So we decided to just have a small group that consisted of the Kubo heir, her second in command and myself; in case anything went awry. There, are ya ok with that answer?!"

"The nerve-"

But the elder is silenced by a booming voice, "We will summon you for another mission soon. You both may leave."

The darkness fades away and we're back inside of the high school. Silently we leave, exhausted from our interaction with the higher ups.

"God that was lame. Let's go ahead and leave."

Don't you still have class?

"Well, the school allows three sick days and I suddenly feel incredibly ill." He clutches at his chest.

Then you should've just stayed home. I tell him, concern tugging at my heart.

He snorts before heartily laughing, "No Takara- I meant-" He sighs, "Never mind, I'm sick and you're the only one who can take care of me."

I hook my arm around his and walk him out of the school. The sun glistening through the raindrops from yesterday's rain.