Curse Carrier Book 1 Of The Curse Carriers Series

Chapter 36: Kiri

Utau POV

After afternoon classes Shin gives Utau a copy of the report Kami sent to him that morning. Some parts are blacked out where Utau doesn't need to know the information contained within. Kami's report is very descriptive and clearly took several days to write. She can almost imagine him working on it every night before going to bed.

He'd made up a similar story to Aidan's about his family being split up so they would seem like kindred spirits. After Aidan admitted to really not liking his mother Kami told him he didn't like his either and that he wanted to go back home to his father in America. After Aidan got into a fight with his brother and broke the older boy's arm he was grounded. While at school they started talking about running away. He invited the boy along and quickly had a fake passport made for him. Kami helped Aidan sneak out of his house in the dead of night and they hopped on a bus to the airport.

While Aidan was sleeping Kami had written up this report. Aidan was nervous and almost backed out but Kami managed to get him to go through with it by appealing to his Curse Carrier pride. They ate at the airport then got on the plane. They both had a nosebleed on their way back but other than that the ride was uneventful. In America Kami had led Aidan to Samael's car. Once they had left the parking lot and gotten on the highway Kami had explained the situation to Aidan and when he began to panic knocked him out. They're driving back from the next state over so they won't be back until tomorrow at the latest.

She sets the report down and returns for evening classes. During free time she notices Shin isn't around. He must be off talking to Curse again. She scans the room for anyone that might be struggling with classwork she can help. It was all testing today so no one seems to be working on mandatory extra work. Her eyes eventually settle on Kiri.

He's off sitting by himself away from his other friends. He looks depressed. Immediately she stands up to go talk to him and see if she can help him in anyway. He looks up as she stops in front of him. "Hello. Can I sit with you?" She asks politely.

Kiri shrugs, "I don't care." He replies.

Utau sits down beside him. "So is something bothering you? You look lonely without Kami being here. Or is it a relief to finally have him out of your hair?" She teases him a little.

His face lights up at the mention of Kami, "Oh, Kami never bothers me." He says quickly. "I do miss him a little though. This is the first time he's been gone for days and days." He admits.

Utau smiles amused, "It sounds like you two get along really well."

Kiri's face turns a little pink and he nods. "We're really good friends." He's smiling joyfully in a way Utau had never seen any of the others smile before.

"It sounds like it. He's supposed to be back tomorrow if that makes you feel any better." She tells him.

He looks up excitedly, "Really?" Utau nods and Kiri bounces happily. "I can't wait for tomorrow then!" He's smiling from ear to ear and Utau can't help thinking he's adorable. She can't imagine how someone as sweet as Kiri can get along with a cold sociopath like Kami. "You know, if the Curse Carrier Project ended and I had to go back to Germany and never see Kami again I would rather the Curse Carrier Project keep going forever."

Utau feels her stomach tighten a little bit. When she thinks about it she can understand how Kiri feels. The downside of ending the project and sending everyone home would be that friends from other countries would have to say goodbye. When she thinks about it she realizes Shin would probably have to go back to Japan with his family and she would have to stay here in America. The very thought of it makes her heart hurt a little. Would I want to stay like this just so I can stay with Shin? She wonders. She surprises herself when she realizes she kind of does but at the same time the responsibility of all the lives depending on her make it so it's not an option.