Dokuso

Chapter Four

(Adelrik's PoV)

At first I was mad. I always am, though, so it's nothing new. I looked down on the kid that just ran into me with an icy glare. He looked scared. Good- I think? Looking at him, I suddenly wasn't so sure. The first thing I noticed were his ears- they must cause a lot of attention. He had four ears... what an oddity. Then I got to his eyes- Striking, yet soft violet eyes. I cursed myself for staring just a beat too long. He starts stammering hurriedly- most people do in these situations. "Oh m-my goodness I'm so s-sorry I didn't s-see you there I d-didn't mean to r-run into you i-is there any way I c-could m-" "Are you okay?" I said it without thinking. What was I thinking? Well the question is out there now. The kid looks confused, as if this has never happened before. He stops rambling for a moment, "W-what..?" Now I was the one babbling. Fantastic. "Well, I mean- Running into ME can feel like running into a brick wall, so I just wanted to make sure you we-" I stop. The kid is still on the floor, but he's now.. Crying? Why is he crying? "Why do y-you... I'm n-nobody... Do you a-actually care..?" Whoa. Okay. This kid... He's gotta be going through something to have that kind of self-judgement. By now everyone has gone to the canteen for lunch- they probably just assumed I'd beat the kid and go about my 'merry' way. Dicks. "Well... I certainly care enough to want you to be okay." The kid looks up at me with his striking eyes. "Right?" I extend my hand to him, and he flinches, as if expecting a punch or a slap. I really hope the reason for that is just for the things I've seen happen at school... It's out before I can stop it. "I'm... I'm not going to hit you." To my surprise- and a twinge of disappointment given its pretty much confirmed my grotesque suspicion- he relaxes and takes my hand. Don't worry kid, I find myself silently promising, I'll protect you from now on. I find myself not wanting to let go of his hand once I've pulled him upright. But I have to, and I know it, so I do anyway. I decide not to go to lunch, and before he can say anything, I turn on my heel and make for the front doors of the school.