A Secret | AC - TG

Stalker • 07

Natame went silent and looked away nervously.
"I.. Didn't want to be a bother.. Your looking after us and all.." He mumbles.

"What's this problem Keriku has?" I ask. I didn't know all that much about Keriku, before she had moved in I only knew she existed because Aunty told me she had a daughter. Natame was really the only one of the siblings I really knew anything about, mainly because we played when we were younger but that was it.

"Um, well. She has a bit of an eating problem. She gets hungry much faster than other ghouls.." Natame explained nervously.
"What do you mean? If that's right then why was Keriku okay for a whole month?" I asked confused.

"She wasn't alright, she was starving. Luckily there was that extra food that Uta gave you. So I didn't say anything more about it."
"There is still a lot we don't know about one eyed ghouls yet.." The manager explains.

"Natame you need to tell me these things." I say looking at him with pleading eyes.
"Yeah, okay whatever." He mumbles obviously not giving a damn.

-=+=-

After I was told the news about Keriku we had some coffee and headed over to the park. Natame was sitting beside me watching Keriku very closely.

He was so protective over her and fortunately that means she's probably safe from doves. As Keriku played in the field I watched the clouds and continuously kept spacing out, I wasn't trying to but I was just really bored.

I felt a tap on my shoulder making me snap back to reality. Natame was now standing over with Keriku playing some sort of chasing game. If Natame was over there who tapped me? I turned around to see a white haired kid that I knew as Juuzou.

"Juuzou?" I asked. He smiled and took a seat on the log beside me.
"Where have you been?" Juuzou asked.
"Just out of town." I said looking back up at the clouds.
"Oh, that's why I couldn't find you anywhere.." He mumbled, "Who are they?" He asked pointing at Natame and Keriku.

"My cousins." I said in a bored tone. I began making shapes at the clouds, one looked like a duck, and another looked like a water faucet.. the next one looked like a zombie.

"Hey Namu are you even listening?-" I heard Natame's voice speak,
"Namu! Namu! Who is your friend?" Keriku asked bouncing up and down. I looked down from the clouds and at them confused on why they were all of a sudden right in front of me.

"My name is Juuzou."
"Hi Juuzou! I'm Keriku, but you can call me Keri!" She said holding out her hand.
"Why don't I get to call you Keri?" Natame mumbled. Juuzou laughed and shook Keriku's hand. Keriku then turned back to me holding something behind her back.

"I um.. Made you something." Keriku mumbled nervously shifting.
"What is it?" She pulls out a crown weaved with flowers and vines.
"Here! Natame showed me how to make it!" She said plopping it on my head. Natame has taught her oragami and how to make flower crowns.. Is he into arts and crafts?

"It's very pretty, thankyou Keriku." I say sweetly.
"I'm sorry I didn't know I had to make one for your friend too.." Keriku mumbled backing away behind Natame looking at Juuzou nervously.

"Don't worry, you don't have to make one for Juuzou." Natame says to her.
"Yeah, don't worry about it Keri!" Juuzou says smiling at her. Keriku smiles back and jumps out from behind Natame excitedly.

"So anyway, what are those red lines on your skin?" Keriku asks jumping up and inspecting Juuzou's stitches.
"They're stitches! Would you like one? It would hurt a bit but I'm sure you'll be fine." Juuzou says leaning closer to her with a sadistic grin on his face.

"I don't think it can hurt me.." Keriku mumbles looking at her feet. Natame pulled Keriku behind him in a protective manner.
"No thanks." He said bluntly still holding Keriku behind him.

"Aw, cmon' I think it will suit her.." Juuzou insisted. Natame didn't reply this time and just glared at Juuzou and Juuzou just stared right back at him. Keriku didn't like the tension that was building and tugged at Natame trying to get him to stop. Natame looked down at Keriku and then back up at Juuzou.

"I think you should leave." Natame said breaking the silence. I couldn't do anything but watch trying not to get involved.
"What? I didn't do anything." Juuzou said trying to resist.

"Now." Natame said clearly irritated by Juuzou's presence. I sat there awkwardly as a few more silent seconds passed then Juuzou stood up and began to walk away.
"Fine. See you around Namu.." He said before leaving the park. Natame snarled and turned away.

"Keriku please go play.." He mumbled and Keriku nodded and ran over to the field picking more flowers. Natame turned to me and he had a slightly irritated expression on his face.. or maybe more than a slight bit.

"What was that about? All he did was ask if she-" I began before getting cut off.
"Didn't you see the way that guy was looking at her?! He's phsyco!" Natame shouted cutting me off.
"No. He's not." I argued. Natame just sighed and mumbled a 'whatever.'

"I'm going to go calm down in the bathroom.. Watch Keriku for me." He said before leaving to find a toilet. I sighed and looked over at Keriku as she was beginning to make another flower crown. I laid down on the log I was sat on and looked up at the sky, watching the clouds.

A few minutes passed by and I felt I nudge on my shoulder. I looked to who it was and it was Natame.
"Where is Keriku?" He asked me, I looked up at the field looking for her but couldn't spot her anywhere.
"Uh, I don't know.." I said starting to feel anxious.

"You don't know?! Where is she?! We have to find her!" Natame panicked and started frantically searching for her.
"KERIKU!" He shouted, "KERIKU WHERE ARE YOU?!" I got up from the log and started looking around concerned. Where could she have gone?

"Keriku!" I called out.
"I'm here." I heard her voice say from behind me. Both Natame and I turned around and found Keriku looking at us confused. She had a flower crown placed on her head and another in her hands.

"Where were you?!" Natame asked worried.
"It's a secret." She whispered holding her finger up to her lips. "Here. For you." She said handing Natame the flower crown in her hands.

I looked in the direction of Keriku and  at the forest behind her. When I looked toward the trees I swore I could see a figure in the background watching us.