Captured By You

7: Conflictions

It was just after the sun had set on the city the next day. Though instead of a beautiful evening, it was raining heavily.

'The sunset was nowhere to be seen today...'

The gloomy streets were busy with cars and people as usual despite the unfavorable weather.

'Neither had I seen anyone. I didn't feel like doing anything.. I may have well just blended into the streets.'

As Kohana walked away from the marketplace with a bento box wrapped in a bag, a man that was in charge of a fruit stand saw her leaving without an umbrella. Courteously, he held one out over her and called for her attention. "C-Chotto matte kudasai!" (Please, wait a second. [Formal])

Though as she silently kept walking, he stared at her in confusion, letting her go.

Kohana cared not that she was getting drenched in rain, no matter how strange she looked to those around her.

'Everything was gray and sounded like noise... '

(Thunder roared loudly above the noisy traffic, and lightning lit the buildings.)

As Kohana made her way out of the busy shopping district and onto the streets of the city, she looked at no one and paid attention to nothing. Nearing the end of the crosswalk, Kohana continued across a merging lane without looking, just as a car was approaching.

The loud screeching of tires filled the air as beaming headlights lit her golden eyes that grew wide in fear.

She gasped, and instantly, the front end of the car hit her enough to cause injury, and she buckled in pain before trying to take two steps forward.

The apologetic driver immediately got out, and those nearby stopped to watch.

"Hontou ni gomen nasai!!" (I'm really sorry.) The woman who was driving the car held her mouth with a terrified expression. "Daishobu des ka?!" (Are you okay?)

Gritting her teeth against the pain, she stepped forward again, picking up the bento box that had fell on the way. With groans she straightened herself and continued slowly walking with determination.

"Daijoubu desu." (It's fine/okay.) she replied lowly.

Both the woman who drove the car and those watching were astonished at her dismissive reaction to the incident. They murmured and talked among themselves.

"Should we call an ambulance?"

"Somebody should call the police."

"Is she really alright?..."

Paying them no mind, Kohana continued down the street towards her home with a limp. The streetlights that glistened against the sidewalk from the rain lit her path with every step she took. Though the more she continued, the throbbing where her right leg was injured began to increase.

'Focus. You're being careless... Tch.'

She began to be upset with herself for allowing her emotions to bring her to such a state.

After a few minutes her leg began to grow numb from the pain, but before she could refocus her attention away from it, she noticed a shadowed figure from the corner of her eye.

On the street parallel to her, a suspicious looking man was walking with his hands in his pockets, keeping her pace.

Noticing his behavior, Kohana abandoned her way home and casually turned down a corner.

Though the moment she did, her eyes widened, and she cursed under her breath.

The street was slightly darker than the main, and was far less popular to travel by.