La Nuit Tourne Red

Chapter Twelve

My eyes remain closed from my deep breath as I begin to feel a breeze whipping my hair against my face. Suddenly familiarity engulfs me as I open my eyes, I realize we're back at the Eiffel Tower. Why is this the designated rendezvous location again?

I glance next to me to Kenzo gripping the handle of his bow in his hand as he's staring out over the horizon, something glistening in his eyes. Worry. Itsuki wouldn't be there right now if it weren't for me... he would be here with me.

"I'll give Itsuki ten more minute... if he's not back I'm going back." Kenzo clenches his jaw as he releases his bow as it falls against his back as he begins to grip the guard rails.
"I'll go with you." I say just wanting to help as a Kenzo shakes his head.

"You will most certainly not." He narrows his eyes at me as he turns away from the guard rail and begins to walk into the room Itsuki brought me to before. His words sting as I begin to feel consequential guilt wash over me.

I follow him into the room as I begin to feel anxious, scared, and useless all simultaneously. I begin to consider Kenzo may also have mutual feelings as I watch him sit on the sofa and cup his face in his hands. I can't imagine what Kenzo is going through...

I walk over to the chair across from the sofa as I sit down and take a deep breath. He'll show up. I know he will. I breathe out as I open my eyes noticing the plaque once more. I still find it hard to believe Asa knew my grandmother of all people...

As I'm staring at the plaques, I notice a slender shadow fly past the window in the reflection from the mirror above the fireplace. In confusion I turn around as I stare out the window trying to see what I saw in the mirror.

I grasp my necklace as I try to ignore the eerie feeling this place gives me at night. I glance back to the plaque, and as swiftly as I turned my head... Itsuki appears, standing there almost bent over. I gasp as I notice the blood seeping through his sweatshirt on the side of his torso.

"Itsuki!" Kenzo yells as he runs over to Itsuki and grasps his arms around him and brings him to the sofa. My heart racing a million miles a minute, I stand there in shock as Itsuki begins to chuckle.
"I-I'm fine." He grunts as Kenzo scoffs and begins to apply pressure to his wound.

"You're not fine. This doesn't look good." Kenzo glances at me as he continues.
"I'm taking Itsuki to the quarters now."
Itsuki reaches his hand out to stop Kenzo as he chuckles again. I can tell he's in pain.

"I'll take Zella... meet us there." He says as he glances at me smiling as I begin to realize... he's insane. He looks half dead... his clothes are torn, there's blood all over them, and his face is stained in dry blood. Then I also begin to realize, he doesn't regret anything he did.

"Have you gone insane?" Kenzo argues as Itsuki waves him off.
"I told you- I'm fine. Besides... we're not leaving her."
Kenzo clenches his jaw to Itsuki breaking eye contact with him, as silence falls upon us.

"Fine." Kenzo says as he disappears all of a sudden surprising me... but not seemingly fazing Itsuki.
"He's not good at... feelings." Itsuki coughs as I walk over to him, ready to get him to the quarters so Kenzo can bandage him up.

His cough worries me... I hope he's actually okay.
"I'm not good at feelings." He adds as he's staring out the window. His words begin to make me wonder if something's on his mind.
"Why not?"

"Ever since my parents... I haven't been close to anyone, accept Kenzo." He starts as I sit next to him on the sofa.
"After the person closest to me died, my mother. I haven't felt my feelings the same way." He turns to me as his deep honey brown eyes meet mine. I begin to feel remorse as I study the blood stains across his face, and his busted lip.