Amidst the shadows and the secrets

Night Fifty-Five

Shaking her head, she crawled into his arms. "Not yet." Precious girlfriend? She heard Aiko say it again. I'm not his girlfriend. I'm not his type. At most, he considers me a friend but nothing more. 

"Still too fresh in your mind or do you think you can talk to me?" He ran his hand through her hair with his other arm wrapped around her. 

Scraping her throat, she put her head on his chest. "She kidnapped me from my bed and took me to the demon world. She mentioned I was in her house there and that I could scream or cry but no one would hear me. She mocked me even..." How do you make me feel safe? Or cared for? She had no idea. "When she started to use the whip on me, I realized she stripped me from my pajama pants." A shiver ran down her spine for talking about it. "She also kept track of time as if she wanted to return me on time. But not without biting me, and she also kept saying I'm a worthless idiot and only good for my blood." Am I worthless? Maybe, because they do want my blood. Some remind me when they get the change, but I'm not an idiot. 

"Don't even think about it," he mentioned while lifting her head. "You are not worthless, Chisana. Yes, you do have quality blood, but you became my chess partner, and I don't allow everyone access to my chessboard. Otherwise, we could've used the chessboard in the game room. I consider you a friend, and you're not my friend alone. There's Laito, who clearly loves to hear you play the piano, or how Subaru looks forward to seeing you in the garden." 

She moved her head. "But not Kanato, because I hardly see him. Or Ayato, he's with Yui the most." 

"Kanato doesn't know any better and closes himself off from everyone. It's the reason why he hardly knows anything that happens around here. Or Shu, listening to music and sleeping a lot, makes him miss quite a lot as well," he explained. "Even then, they too see you as a friend, because Kanato came to the kitchen and all you asked him was the front door, and he understood your request." He figured they would all stand up for her and Yui. "Ayato is a special case, and he needs to make it official with Yui." He moved away a little. "How about a shower? I'll stay right here if she does decide to come back, but I'll doubt she will. You'll feel better after a shower, Chisana. Come on." He helped her out of her bed and took her to her wardrobe. He knew she liked easy and comfortable clothes, which made him choose a long skirt and a sweater. "Go on, if something happens, I'll be right here." 

Encouraged by him, she was left alone in the bathroom. No, I should be safe right now. There's no way she would come when Reiji is so close. Even for a quick shower, she did enjoy it and came back out. Where she did find Reiji on her bed with a book. "Thank you." He did stay close by. 

"Feels much better, right?" He closed his book after checking the page number. "Do you want a cup of tea?" He didn't wait for her reply and took her to the kitchen. "How much did she drink from you?" 

"No idea, she drank until I was unconscious. It's the first time that happened." Am I creating work for him? He is staying home because of me. She followed him with her eyes. "Reiji? Are you going to punish me for keeping you home?" 

"No, why would I." Knowing he needed to wait for the water boiler, he turned back. "Chisana, you were taken away against your will while being under my care." 

"But you are missing out on a school night." She didn't look at him.

He chipped her head up. "Don't go there, Chisana, I got a glimpse of who you can be, and I miss her. But after everything she did to you, she hasn't pushed all your buttons yet. I think that confident woman comes out again when that girl does push you over the edge. Find her again, Chisana."

"I'm trying but it's not easy."

Seeing a tear going down, he pulled her into his arms. "Then you have to do something that all those buttons are pushed. You haven't reached your limits yet. I'm sure you understand too that only then you truly stand up for yourself."