Draw Again

Chapter 13

After packing my things into the new backpack I bought a few weeks back I dropped it out the window where it landed in the alley behind the building. Once that was done I made my way down the hall to Anna's room where I slid a piece of paper with the different ways she could use to get a hold of me once I left Homra, then I went downstairs. Now I just had to act normal, so I wouldn't be stopped. Kusanagi was my biggest obstacle.

He wasn't there.

Glancing around the bar there was no sunglasses wearing bar owning blond to be seen. No Totsuka, nor Anna. Not even Yata. The only person in the bar apart from myself was Mikoto, and he was already napping even though it was only ten in the morning. I guess there was no facade to put on, so I made my way to the door.

"Hmph."

Startled by the noise I spun around to see Mikoto sitting up on the couch staring at me with half lidded amber eyes. My heart lurched into my throat as his gaze felt like it was burning a hoke through me, Was it? I wouldn't put it past Mikoto to be able to do that to people.

"What?" I questioned when he didn't turn away.

"Running away," he stated.

My jaw clenched, my poker face gone. How did Mikoto do that?

"No," I said.

"Trouble," Mikoto tsked.

Why was I getting mad? I should have turned away from the man and just left he wasn't going to stop me, but my blood was beginning to boil and my mouth suddenly had a mind of its own.

"I know I'm trouble!" I shot. "That's why I'm leaving. I won't cause you any more problems. Everything will go back to the way it was before I ran into you guys."

I clenched my right hand into a fist while my bandaged left twitched at my side. I could feel the prickle of fresh tears coming, not that I needed to cry anymore my eyes were swollen enough.

"Problems," Mikoto repeated. I couldn't tell if he was questioning me or agreeing with me, His expression and tone were so indifferent.

I couldn't keep looking at him, so I dropped my blurred gaze to the floor before me while my frustration bubbled forth.

"That's right, I'll take my problems with me. I won't be trouble for Homra anymore, that's what you all want right?" I fought.

"When was that ever said?"

Mikoto was suddenly right in front of me, towering over me without so much as a grunt of warning at his approach. I jumped backwards colliding with the door with a squeak that I wished hadn't escaped. He stared down at me as he took the cigarette out of his mouth with his left hand and propped himself against the door with his right, pinning me between the door with himself.

"I-I can see it on everyone's faces," I said.

"Oh?" he challenged.

"Y-Yeah," I stuttered.

"What do you see now?"

I stared up at Mikoto as his molten eyes stayed firmly on my face. There was no anger in his expression, or hatred, not a sign that I was expected to leave and yet it wasn't like he wanted me to stay either.

"I see you Mikoto," I started. "I see a man who has a world hanging over him, and burns for his freedom. That, that is what I see."

Releasing a puff of smoke he said, "Then why are you leaving?"

I shrunk back from his words. I knew why I was leaving, I had made my list in my head with justifiable reasons as to why I had to go. But now as I stood there eyes locked with Mikoto all my reasons seemed childish and stupid. Those looks I saw, were they all in my head? Was I making my choices only on fear, and the avoidance of the had paths in life? Was I taking the easy way out, was that all I ever did?