Retrograde

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

"Did you have a nice bath?" Kaito asked, his question was harmless but I couldn't take it seriously, not with how he was dressed.

"K-K-K-Kaito, wh-wh-why is your shirt off?" I managed.

"I needed to dry my clothes..." Kaito stated as he looked over at his hoody and shirt which were both hung in front of a fireplace over chairs.

"A-A-Aren't you cold?" I wondered. Kaito looked at me puzzled.

"No... why would I be cold?"

"Because it is cold outside?" I suggested.

"But it's warm in here... look, if you feel uncomfortable I can just put my wet clothes back on." Kaito stated, a small frown on his face.

"N-No, I don't want you to get sick, don't worry, wait here, I'll go and see if my Father has any clothes that might fit you." I stated as I headed upstairs. I had no idea where my parents' room was at the time but as I ascended the stairs and headed down the corridors I found myself walking down a path, one as a small child.

The child I was picturing I assumed was my younger self, she ran down the corridor in a frilled outfit, similar to the outfits I wore now. Her shoulder length dark brown hair bounced with every leap she took.

"Mummy! Daddy! You're home!" she called as she jumped into the arms of her parents and giggled happily. My vision was shortly lived and I found myself standing in the bedroom which belonged to my parents. On their bedside table sat a picture, one I hadn't seen. In the picture there were two boys and the little girl I had seen in my vision along with my parents and two other adults. I found myself staring at the picture with confusion. I felt a sense of familiarity with these people but I could not tell who they were and the images of them were not clear to me. The only clear images were of my parents and the small girl.

"I-I don't understand..." I managed as I placed the image face down and walked into my parents' cupboard where I found a white button up shirt. I took it off its coat hanger and then headed back downstairs where I held the shirt out to Kaito and looked away so that I didn't have to see his shirtless torso. "H-Here." I stated.

"Thanks..." Kaito replied as he took the shirt and put it on, he did up the buttons and went back to preparing the food. "I was thinking that maybe... in a few weeks' time we should go stay at my house. This is only when we go back to school of course but if you want to head back earlier we can..." Kaito explained.

"Your house?" I questioned, I was confused.

"Uh... yeah... it's just that it's closer to the school and all." Kaito added.

"Oh... I wasn't aware that you had a house." I stated.

"Who do you think I am? Some guy who lives on the streets?" Kaito asked, seeming disappointed.

"N-No! Not at all Kaito!" I exclaimed as I waved my hands in front of my face and shook my head rapidly.

A small grin came to Kaito's face and I instantly felt at ease as I looked into his visible eye. He had a kind face that was haunted with pain. Even I could tell that.

"If you don't want to it's fine." Kaito assured me, looking away and focusing on the meal he was preparing.

"Oh no, I do want to, just closer to the time, I still need to remember things here..." I stated as I looked down, my eyes betraying emotion.

Kaito glanced back at me with his visible eye. "Alright, closer to the time then." Kaito agreed with a sharp nod. "I'm going to finish preparing this food, I think after we've eaten we should sleep, because, tomorrow I want to take you somewhere..." Kaito added. At this time I was looking outside at the moon again and gave him a small nod, refusing to shift my focus.