High & Low ~The story of SWORD~

Act 20: A bleary moment

Kasumi poured herself into the pages of the book. She scoured the book, that was about the law and how corrupted a country's system could be. She skim read the book. She read until she was almost cross-eyed and the words merged into nonsense. She paused and massaged her throbbing temples as she glanced at another page. She was laying on her stomach and her legs tapped against the air casually. She was wearing her jeans, a hipster top and a neck scarf. Her face was made up, but not over done and her short black hair was pulled back into a pony-tail.

She rolled on the bed refusing to read any longer. Maybe she had to study for those few classes until she graduated. Yet, her mind was buzzing her about Cobra, SWORD, The pact and so many things that had nothing to do with her studies. Noboru claiming she needed to catch up, the large exams were close. Kasumi blinked rapidly and pressed her forehead onto the book, as if that could imprint it in her memory. But it did not work. She groaned and glanced at the ceiling before forcing her gaze back down at the book.

She stifled a yawn and rubbed her bleary eyes. Her thoughts became groggy and incoherent. Kasumi decided to close the book and look at the ceiling once again. The white ceiling was gone, as now her memory was tangling around Cobra. The Hoodlum Squad's Leader paid a visit few times to Rocky. He needed to know why he was refusing to be part of the pact. Kizzy informed it that it was because of Doubt and Ranmaru. An old enemy of Rocky and he was after the White Rascals. Rocky would never involve SWORD to a personal problem. Yet, Cobra did not give up he would visit Rocky again to have a face to face talk with him.

And there was her mind again wheeling around Cobra. Lately, it was happening more frequently. Like her first thought would be about Cobra and her last. True be told, his physical part was damn nice, but the leader of Hoodlum Squad was more than that. He had soul, and a big heart. He was man enough to be a boy. He was slowly showing who he were born to be, not what the world made him into. Day by day, Kasumi unfolded and found out more about the deadly leader. And each day she was dragged closer to him.

"Oi! Kasumi how long will you stare at the ceiling!" a monotone male voice echoed against the small room.

The girl's thoughts vanished like a smoky cloud above her head. Her bleary eyes, that were lost, slowly returned to the reality. Her lips cracked a light smile, as she noted Cobra standing few steps away from her. She was so drawn in her thoughts, she never noticed him enter. "Since when are you here?" she asked him. Next she stretched her upper body and arched her back until she was in a sitting position. She gather her legs and crossed them, allowing her hips to sit on them.

"During the roll... You were suppose to study!" he said as his eyes strictly pinned on her.

She frowned "Not you too! Noboru reminded me enough about studying today!" Then she reached her book only to throw it at the edge of the bed. "My mind is troubled enough!" she cried out.

Cobra tilted his head and climbed into the bed. He leaned his back against the wall and stretched his legs lightly touching her back. "Your mind should be busy with learning more laws and finishing those classes. There should be nothing else bothering you." he told her. His eyes were so different in moments like those, more soft than she knew eyes could be. It was not like he was scolding her, he was just pointing her to the path she should take.

"Yeah, I know. It's just everyone is anxious. With Kuryu Group taking more land. Ranmaru and Doubt poking around the White Rascals. Daruma in their own world. And the only good news is if Furuno and the others manage to upload the content of Takeru's USB. Maybe that could slow the Kuryu down." Kasumi stated as she rolled again on her belly next to Cobra gazing at him.

"Furuno?" Cobra puzzled.

"Hmm... The hacker lady. Noboru's friend. I told you Noboru scold me to study. We met few hours ago. Then he told me, Furuno, Kohaku, Tsukumo and the Amamiya are up to upload and expose everything." Karumi explained as her legs started to wave again against the air.