Childhood Friends

Chapter 6: The Healing.

Sitting still like this felt unnatural to Kaito. He had this restless feeling deep down in his stomach that something was horribly wrong. He felt like his arms and legs were starting to go numb, feeling almost like lead weights. He kept as still as he could, trusting that Maki's word about him being this close to danger. He tried to listen to the conversation in the other room, but he couldn't make out a single word. He was tempted to try to move closer to the door but he resisted. He knew that if he tried to move, he'd be more than likely to draw attention to himself. While he couldn't hear what was said clearly, he could pretty much figure out what it was about. It was more than likely about the man Maki had killed.

Kaito was snapped out his uncomfortable trance when he heard a harsh dull sound that reverberated throughout the apartment. It took him a second to realise what it was. Whoever Maki was talking to just hurt her! Feeling a sense of adrenaline and anger rushing within his body, Kaito started to thrash at the rope holding him. He gritted his teeth as he felt like his skin was being broken. He ignored the pain, more focused on getting free and seeing if Maki was alright. Not to mention, he wanted to show this guy why he shouldn't hit a girl, let alone a friend. However, the more he struggled, the tighter the bindings seemed to get. Kaito shouted every curse word in the book in his head at this. He wanted to help Maki but all he can do was sit there and do nothing. He felt completely useless at this point.

There was a harsh slamming of a door, the floor vibrated for a second. Kaito stopped moving, breathing heavily. He could feel his adrenaline suddenly fleeting from his body. A small trickle of nervous sweat dropped down his brow. He could hear his heart pounding inside his head. The heavy heartbeat was so loud that he almost couldn't hear the familiar footsteps coming towards the room. The hard thumping in his ears stopped when the door once again loudly creaked open. Maki stood there once more. She seemed different. She had this lost look on her face and there was a harsh, red mark on one side of her face. Kaito felt his anger return to him upon seeing her, angry that she had been hurt, possibly because of him. Maki snapped out her lost state when she approached him again, her face blank like a new canvas.

"Okay, it's safe now." She sighed as she removed the tape off of his face again. She was a little more gentle this time.

"Are you alright?" Kaito asked right away. He wished that he could give some form of comfort to Maki right now.

"Don't worry about it, Momota." The girl sighed as she stepped away from him. She went over to a bedside table that Kaito couldn't see from where he was.

"Like Hell I'm not! What happened?!" Kaito exclaimed, shocked at how quick he was brushed off. Maki didn't pay any attention to him. She only opened a draw that was in the bedside table. "Maki-"

"It's nothing. I'm fine." Maki said, her voice stern. She was looking down at something in the draw.

"That injury says otherwise!" Kaito protested. Maki turned to him. The air once again seemed to have gotten tense again. It was almost unbearable to say the least. Maki stayed silent as she suddenly pulled out a knife. Katio tried to back away, but he couldn't get far. "Wai-wait a minute!" Maki didn't respond to that as she approached him. Kaito closed his eyes, bracing himself for a strike. It didn't come. It was only when he heard rope being sliced and feeling the pressure on his legs being lifted, that he relaxed. Maki moved next to him and he turned a little so she could have easier access to his hands. She paused suddenly before letting out a quiet sigh. Kaito could only guess what she had seen. The pressure on his wrists was relented after a second. Kaito wasted no time in having a look at his wrists. He frowned upon seeing the friction burns that he had sustained. He cursed himself a little for not thinking things through clearly again. Maki gently took one of his wrists and looked at it. After a minute she stood up, gently pulling Kaito to his feet. The minute he stood up, Kaito suddenly stumbled a little, nearly falling on top of Maki.

"What are you-" Maki exclaimed, sounding unimpressed by the Ultimate Astronaut's involuntary action.

"Sorry, my legs had gone dead." Kaito muttered, a little embarrassed. He looked down at Maki as she helped to keep him upright. He was quite surprised by how soft Maki's face was. She had this kind look and her eyes seemed to feel warm and soft. She was completely different from the girl he first saw at Hope's Peak.

"I'm sorry this happened to you, Momota." She sighed. She gently took his hand and led him into the apartment. The rest of wasn't any different from the bedroom. The apartment was a small one bedroom flat. The once polished hardwood floors were covered by dust, showing clear footprints as if it was snow. The wallpaper was either torn off or starting to peel off. A lot of the furniture was old but there was clear evidence of someone living here. There was a mini fridge, a small portable cooker and microwave in the kitchen. On an old bookcase, there was a black case and small boxes that Kaito could assume were occupied with weapons. Maki continued to lead Kaito to an old couch.

"Wait here." She said calmly before leaving Kaito alone. She disappeared into another room that Kaito could only assume was the bathroom. Sighing a little, Kaito sat down on the couch. He looked down at his wrists. They were starting to bleed a little by this point. Kaito hissed a little as his mind wondered off to how his grandmother was going to go ballistic when she sees his wrists. Crap! His grandparents! They don't know where he is and if he's okay. He'll have to try to phone them soon so that they don't file a missing person's case by the end of the day. Kaito was snapped out of his thoughts were Maki suddenly approached him with a small box in her hands. She sat next to him and rummaged through the first aid supplies that the box held. Kaito waited patiently as she pulled out hand sanitiser, bandages and a small pot of ointment. Maki cleaned her hands with the sanitiser and gently took one of Kaito's wrists.

"This might sting a little." She warns, dipping her forefinger and middle finger into the ointment. Kaito nodded, relaxing his body to the best he can. Seeing that he was ready, Maki began to apply the ointment. Kaito winced loudly, instinctively trying to pull away from the sensation he felt on his wounds. It felt like he was repeatedly being stung by bees. Almost felt like his skin was on fire. Maki held him firmly, muttering an apology as she focused on applying the ointment. Kaito kept as still as he could, waiting patiently again for Maki to finish tending to his injuries. He studied her face carefully. Again, he noticed how kind her expression was. It was as if the girl he knew years ago was slowly resurfacing. All the harshness that Maki had thrown at him had felt like it had been erased almost immediately. Now all there was to see was the kindness that Kaito could see from Maki right now. It was heart warming to see this. It almost brought a tear to Kaito's eye. It finally felt like the world was fair again. Well almost. There were still questions that he needed answers to.

"It's nice seeing this side of you, you know?" Kaito smiled as Maki wrapped his wrist up. Maki didn't respond to his comment. She focused more on what she was doing. When she finished, she let go of Kaito, and continued to look down, looking ashamed with herself. Kaito frowned a little. He needs to get her to open up so he can figure out a way to help. He gently placed a hand on Maki's shoulder, making her look up at him. Using his other hand, Kaito carefully stroked the red mark on Maki's face with his thumb. He brushed it as lightly as he could to not cause Maki any discomfort. "Maki, these burdens that you're carrying are going to crush you if you shoulder them alone. These walls are closing you off from those that want to help. They're preventing me from helping you. You gotta trust other people. You gotta trust me, Maki." Time seemed to freeze as Kaito said that. Nothing moved. There was no sound. It was like the whole scene was captured inside a photograph. Both high schoolers were once again locked in a staring match. Kaito's lavender coloured eyes clashed with Maki's scarlet red ones. Kaito's were begging, almost demanding, for Maki to open up and Maki's were demanding Kaito to back off.

After being locked in that position for what seemed like an eternity, Maki shifted her eyes to Kaito's hand, which was still caressing her red cheek. She grasped it, which made Kaito tense up a little. Either she was going to hold it, or break his wrist. Thankfully, she lowered it gently from her face and sighed in defeat.

"Okay. I'll tell you everything." She sighed. Kaito nodded and took her hand in both of his for support, her smaller hand was almost engulfed in his. There was another silence. Kaito made no effort to break it himself. He could tell that this might be hard for Maki to talk about. He knew that rushing her might result in her sealing herself away again. He offered a small, encouraging smile, hoping that it could help. He was glad that he finally convinced Maki to come around. All it took were baby steps. Now, all that he needed to do, was listen.