Kouken

Chapter 7- The bracelet

                “I hope I’m not that late,” Hina mumbles as she pants for air after climbing so many stairs. Her class room is on the top floor, which made it tough on her slender legs. Once she reaches the light brown door of her classroom, she grasps the door knob and gasps one last time. “Here we go.”The door opens and you can tell everyone is sitting in their desks quietly waiting for what the teacher is going to say to Hina.

“Hina you’re late…” The teacher says gently.

“I am so very sorry Ms. Aria, I had a long night,” Hina replies.

“No its ok don’t worry about it, just sit down and ask someone for what you have missed,” Ms. Arai sympathizes.

“Ok,” Hina answers quietly as she walks towards her desk with embarrassment.

“Oh by the way… I would like to talk to you about something after class Hina,” Ms. Arai adds.

“Huh?” She questions while sitting on her small uncomfortable wooden desk.

“Just remember to come to me after class, ok?” Ms. Arai demands with an uncanny smile.

“Ok…” Hina mutters back trying to hide in her small desk.

                Ms. Aria walks over to the light switch and turns the lights off. There is a delay for the lights to run off so she flickers the light switch again and finally the light goes off. “Ok let us continue with the class.”

“This is strange, I have a bad feeling about something.” Hina thinks to herself worried. “I really hope that Kenny is ok, he said he had something to do, but that is not a reason to skip his class.”

“We are going to start with a documentary video, can someone please close the window curtains.”

“I will teacher,” A student sitting in the front of the class says raising her hand.

“Thank you Tina” Aria replies nodding with a joyful expression.

                Hina looks over to the window as it closes and feels an urge to glimpse outside to the park but couldn’t. It was all too strange for her. She had never felt this way before and placing her hand on her head she asks herself, “this can’t be love, can it?”

“What was that?” Ms. Aria asks curiously.

“Oh nothing Ms. Aria,” Hina responds waving her hand.

                Minutes after the incident outside, Kensuke is sitting on the stairs of the school. By then the police had cleaned, taken the dead bodies and the injured way. The police also questioned Kensuke but did not come to any conclusions, since it was impossible for just boy to kill and defeat five armed muggers.

“Can I ask you something Kurome?” Kensuke asks looking down at the cement under him.

“What?” Kurome responds disinterested.

“Why did you save me? You are only Hina’s Kouken, not mine.”

Kurome stares at Kensuke while he thinks about the question. “I believe Hina wished that you were not to be harmed.”

Even though those words must have comforted him, he still seemed down, “Did you not feel any remorse in killing a human?”

“No.”

Kensuke does not say a word for a long pause, until he stands and pats his pants twice and shunts Kurome, “You are cold.”

                It is the end of class now and everyone is sitting and listening for the bell. Quickly they stand and leave after hearing it. Hina also stands but walks to the teacher’s desk instead. “I am guessing I am going to get scolded for coming to class late,” she thinks to herself while standing firm in front the desk where the teacher is sitting with her legs crossed. Ms. Aria is beautiful and is envied but loved by most of the student population. Not only that, she also has the respect of everyone because of her loving personality. You can say that it is rare to see her mad.

“You are not mad right Ms. Aria” Hina asks dejectedly.

“Of course not,” Ms. Aria responds with her usual smile, “I just wanted to ask you if you were feeling ok today.”

“Oh hm.” Hina did not expect that answer. Although she knew that Ms. Aria worried about her students to a great extent, it was still quite strange. “Yes, I think I’m fine… although I did have a strange feeling earlier but I’m sure it was nothing.”

“Were you worried for someone?”

Hina opens her eyes in confusion and awe by how Ms. Aria guessed accurately. “Yes, I was… how did you know?”

                “Just a lucky guess, well truthfully you remind me of myself. When I was young I would worry about my loved ones all the time and you are also beautiful just as I was.” Ms. Aria extends her arm towards her desk’s drawer, “Hina, I would like you to have something of mine,” She takes out a bracelet, “this used to be mine when I was your age, I think you should have it.” The bracelet was beautiful but simple; it had an ornament the shape of a drop hanging from a small thin chain. Despite its simplicity, its allure made it impossible for anyone to reject the gift.

“Ms. Aria it looks so beautiful, why give it me?” Hina asks while being mesmerized by the radiant bracelet being handed to her.

“Like I said, you remind me of myself, so I want you to have it…” Ms. Aria explains to Hina with a caring voice. She then takes hold of Hina’s hand, places the bracelet and gently seals her hand. “Please, I want it to be something precious to you and remind you of everyone you care about.

“It is far too unusual to be accepting something from a teacher, but ok Ms. Aria.” Hina holds the bracelet tightly to her chest. “I accept your gift.”

Ms. Aria smiles embracing Hina’s hand, “Thank you.”