Where the Paths Take Me [COMPLETED]

Chapter 7: The First Step

"You idiot!" Kasamatsu tugged at Kise's shirt collar. He spoke between gritted teeth, "Look at what you've done!"

"Yukio," Minako was quick to intervene. "Yukio, calm down. Please. Kise-kun doesn't know. Yukio.."

Minako kept her voice soft as Kasamatsu let go of Kise's shirt. She pulled him to her side by the arm, drawing circles around his back.

"Damn it, what was Noriko-san thinking letting you stay here. You know nothing! That scar is something you should never mention to Megumi."

Hearing that, Kise dashed towards the exit. He should be able to catch up to Megumi.

'I'm sorry Megumi. I'm sorry. I didn't know. What have I done? Megumi!' Kise's mind raced as he rounded the corner, almost colliding with a staff. He paid no attention to Kasamatsu's voice yelling at him from behind. He wanted to find her. He has to.

The corridors brought him to the side exit. He caught up just in time to see Megumi running towards the Mirai residence.

"Megumi!" He called but Megumi kept running. The mere sound of his voice made her flinch and she ran faster.

Back with Kasamatsu and Minako, the ginger did her best to hold back the dark haired boy. His entire body was tense and ready to storm off after Kise.

"Yukio, calm down! You'll bother the guests!"

"How can I be calm? You know that scar--"

"I know! But, being angry at Kise-kun won't fix this. Like I said, he doesn't know. So please calm down so we could go explain to him."

Kasamatsu's sucked in a breath and let it out. His body began to relax. Minako slowly let go of his arm.

"Why does that kid keep prying?" He rested his foreheard on Minako's shoulder, calming himself.

"He's not prying, he just doesn't know. And maybe.. just maybe. Maybe it's time for Mi-chan to face it all."

"I just don't want to see her like before, Minako. She's been through enough."

"I know. But she can't live in that void all alone forever, right?"

They both saw how that scar became a constant reminder of the tragedy that changed Megumi's family forever. That.. on top of the betrayal that made her distance herself from everyone around her.

The had to witness the cheerful little girl that would follow them around to play suddenly grow completely silent. It was a time where light seemed to leave her eyes and even her two childhood friends couldn't reach her. She locked herself into a void and severed the path that connected her to everyone else.

Kasamatsu took another deep breath as her finally cooled off.

Minako pulled away from him slight and cupped his cheeks in her hands. "All better?"

"Mhm.."

"Okay. Then, let's go find them."

"Alright.. Let's go."

He took her hand and left the inn. They had an idea to where they might find Megumi.

- - - - - -

"Megumi!" Kise called out as he went up the mountain path.

At some point, he arrived at a branching path. He looked down both but the dry dirt didn't give away which way Megumi went down.

A rustle among the bushes made him tense in alert. He doesn't know what other forest creature roams around that mountain.