Only Human

What's Left? ch.5

     An aching headache woke Misaki. She carefully sat up and looked around. She seemed to be at the entrance of a large cave. The cave was mossy and damp, it went on for about the size two full gyms. Misaki spotted roku outside. He was dragging a human body out of the large lake that spread out a couple of yards from the cave. Misaki massaged her bandaged arm as she watched Roku drop the body in a hole in the ground and begin to cover it with dirt. There was already multiple mounds of dirt beside Roku. Misaki stood up and walked over to Roku. Roku spotted her and wiped the sweat off his forehead as he turned to face her. "You okay?" Misaki eyed the mounds of dirt. "Yeah...Roku. Those are all human aren't they?" Roku paused and thought for a second. "Yeah. Those bombs killed most humans." Misaki frowned and turned away. She plucked a bunch of small flowers and set one on each grave. They both continued working all day. At the end of the day Roku retreated to the cave and Misaki looked around. The lake was now clear and full of live fish. Surrounding the lake was wild Berry bushes that were rooting around fertile land. Misaki smiled. She walked back to the cave and sat next to half asleep Roku. She shook his shoulder.

"Roku." "Mmm?" "I just thought of something." He turned to her, his violet eyes shining. "Let's make this place a shelter." "Huh? A shelter? As in rescuing people?" "Yeah, why not? This place is perfect!" "You're crazy." He turned back around and shut his eyes. Misaki also layed down on the cold cave floor. She inched away from Roku and shut her eyes.

       Misaki woke up in Roku's arms. He had a peaceful face when he slept. She wanted to stare at him, but didn't dare take the risk of him waking and finding her staring at him. She carefully slipped out of his arms and tiptoed to the lake. She sat down on the moss and took the small red remote out of her skirt pocket. The yellow button was cracked through the middle and the remote was crackling. Misaki sighed. She threw it into the lake. I don't have any way to defend myself, Roku's fangs won't be dulled anymore, and there isn't any cows around here to donate blood. Misaki shivered at the thought of Roku biting her again. She glanced over to the graves of the bodies that were floating in the lake. They were all human. Didn't I have someone special to me? A family member? As she struggled to remember, her head began to pulse. "Hey." Misaki jumped. She turned and found Roku's tall figure looming over her. His mouth twitched into a grin. "You threw the remote away." H-how does he..

She frowned at him and stood. "You.. You were awake!" "I woke hours ago." But...but then why was his arms wrapped around me when I woke up..? His smile only grew. Misaki ignored him and started walking off in the opposite direction of the cave. "Where are you going?" She heard his loud footsteps following. "To search for any survivors." "You're still going on about that? You won't find any humans you know." "I didn't say I was only going to save humans." He went silent for a second. "Demons don't need help from a human." "You don't know that. A demon could be out there with broken legs, blind, or injured. They may need help." "You're not a doctor Misaki. Why are you doing this?" She turned to look at him. "I won't sit here in the safety of the cave and let anybody suffer out here. If you don't like it, then stop following." His face was now angry. "Misaki I won't let you be killed out here." You're face doesn't match what you're saying. "There's nothing around anymore! What would I be killed by!?" "By whoever set up those bombs!" "Huh??" "Misaki, those bombs weren't nearly strong enough to kill off anything that had demon blood in it! Those bombs were specifically set for humans!" "W-why would anybody want to kill humans?" "Grudges against humans aren't exactly rare Misaki. You are all weak, yet humans try to control us by assigning us a human to control us. Not all demons are fine with it like I am." "I'm happy you're my human." Misaki felt her face begin to redden. "Why are you blushing?" Roku asked curiously as he walked closer. Misaki turned away and continued walking. "Shut up. You just like me because my blood tastes good to you." Misaki spotted something moving across the horizon. "Misaki if I hated you, I would've sucked all the blood out of your body by now." She stopped walking. Roku doesn't hate me? She squinted at the figure moving on the horizon. What is that? "Roku." "What?" She pointed at the figure. "Is that what I think it is?" Roku squinted at the figure. He paused. "Get on." Roku crouched down, signaling for Misaki to get on his back. She climbed on and he set off to the sky. The figure turned into a guy. He had bright blue hair and was bleeding from his leg. Misaki's eyes widened as his face came into view. "Gorru!! Gorru is that you?!" The figure looked up and waved his arms. Misaki smiled. Roku landed and Misaki jumped off. She ran to Gorru and hugged him. He returned the hug as Roku stepped closer. Gorru grinned as he ran his fingers through Misaki's hair. "Misaki, how are you okay? Aren't you human?" "I almost drowned, but Roku saved me." Gorru paused. He tensed up. He stared at the ground and frowned. "Lanna....she.." Misaki froze. "W-what about Lanna?" Roku stepped up behind Misaki and pat her head. Roku's arms comforting her and Gorru tearing up meant only one thing. A cold lump formed in her throat and everything felt cold. Roku's hand intertwined with hers and he spoke softly into her ear. "She was human." Misaki remembered the graves. Tears ran down her cheeks.

      Misaki sat silently inside the cave. The guys slept soundly beside her. She banished any thoughts of her friend and stared off into the darkness of the night. As the cold started to creep into the cave, Misaki made a tiny fire and watched it burn. Lanna died. But....Why can't I remember anybody else to worry about? My life did not revolve around Lanna, Roku, and Gorru. So why can't I find anybody else? She began to search for anybody else she knew. Her head pulsed in pain. Something...something hit my head before I passed out. Misaki massaged her temples. My mind doesn't let me remember anything. She sighed and layed down next to the guys. At least I have Gorru here now. Roku won't attack me if somebody is watching. She brought her knees up to her chest and slept.

      The next morning Misaki changed the bandage on Gorru's leg as he explained his experience of the bombing. "I was walking to school at the time of the first explosion. The only thing I saw was a bright light and fire. I ran to the school, hoping to save anybody. I tripped over something and that's how I got the injury on my leg, but I kept running. I pulled a teacher out of the fire and headed for the lake. Then I saw Lanna." Misaki looked up at him. His face was serious as he stared down at his hands. "She was still alive, but I knew she wouldn't make it. She kept repeating your name Misaki." Misaki went back to bandaging Gorru's leg as her eyes teared up again. Roku scooted closer. "I was the one who left her in the lake, I found her under a door with her leg crushed. She's the one who told me you were in the showers." Misaki wiped at the tears that ran down her cheeks. Gorru noticed. "Roku, how did you know which showers Misaki was in?" "I did struggle with that. I ran around everywhere until I smelled Misaki's blood gushing out of a tub." Roku turned to Misaki. "I thought the wall had crushed you." Misaki blushed but didn't turn to look at Roku. "Roku. Where did you live before you moved here?" Roku paused at the sudden question. "In the next city over. Why?" Misaki gulped. "You.... You said you had a little sister." Roku went silent and stared down at the ground. Misaki finished the bandaging and turned to him. "Let's go search there today. Okay?" He looked at her. "No Misaki. You stay here with Gorru. I'll go search." He stood up and walked out of the cave. Misaki frowned and followed. Outside, Roku faced the opposite direction. His back was hunched over, seeming distant. Misaki walked up behind him and ignored his body language that clearly stated he did not want to talk. "Roku, I'm coming with you." "No. You're not." "Why shouldn't I!?" Roku stayed silent. "Roku answer me!" She stomped in front of him and pulled his face up from the ground. She froze. His eyes avoided hers and he pulled away. Misaki stood still. Surprised at the face she had just seen. She walked closer but didn't turn her face up to get a second look. She slipped her arms between his tense arms and his waist. He let her hug him. "Roku...I won't do what you want me to." His chin rested on the top of Misaki's head and his arms wrapped around Misaki as well. "Misaki. You're safer here in the cave." "I don't think Gorru would like to take responsibility of my life Roku. If anything were to happen to me meanwhile you're gone, he'll blame himself." "So will I." Misaki blushed. She was glad Roku couldn't see her face. "I will go with you Roku. You're the one who saved me. I'm safer with you." Roku sighed. Misaki climbed onto his back before he could change his mind. They set off into the sky. I will not allow you to find your sister dead and suffer alone. You were there for me, so I will be there for you. Roku's little sister, please be alive.