Manacled Desire

9. A change

When the grasp over certain importance loses, nothing feels alive again. From the next morning it all began to appear that way. Sakura busied herself from serving his father who decided to stay from work and how much Kyosuke hated to leave her with him alone, even for a day.
Whatever Sakura said wasn't to be neglected, no matter what they both had its a bond that only prevailed in secret. How long would it ever last? But regardless, both his heart and mind denied of giving up on her. He kept up the thought during his way to school when all of a sudden Mayuko slammed his back with her bag to shaken up. "Hey lost soul, down already?" "Looks like the curse-city got him hard" added Shin too.
He couldn't help but smile out anyway. He looked over Mayuko, playing the facade.
Shin paused their walk.
"You'd be happy to hear that I found another lead about that case of yours. I used my brilliant resources and found out the officer who was investigating those suicide cases. I am gonna meet him tonight". It sure stun them both.
"You sure it's that officer?" Kyosuke asked, surprised and a bit worried. Shin nodded proudly.
Mayuko looking away gritting her teeth in secret with those same eyes before she jumped forward to excitement.
"Mind if we come along?" She asked.
"Well, I had to request him a thousand times cause he didn't wanna speak to anyone about this, so I promised to come alone and leave quick. He is one scared man"
No helping there but it could cost them their tiny secret. What if he gets to know everything?.
Shin fixed an appointment at night, alone once his work dismisses.
Kyosuke informed Yukino about Shin having an appointment. Nothing else.

The entire day, he led eyes over Mayuko as she couldn't act any normal, like nothing ever happened.

Takao was already filling his ash tray and littering the tiles with spilled beer cans and bottles when a colleague of his stopped by, clearly to warm his pervert eyes by the beautiful new wife his friend gained. Hopefully not a thing occur due to the distance Sakura bestowed at the time for the sake of safety yet her heart was crying out for her Kyo-kun countless time even after he returned.
Not a generous lover's smile towards his notice. Nevertheless, Kyosuke wasn't in any condition to react well. She felt his tension clear. She tried to genuinely know about the tale but the last thing he would want was to involve her into this mess. He revealed nothing.
The night spend without an ounce of peaceful sleep to his eyes. The next day appeared when Shin would speak up. Mayuko too, probably.
He rushed out, scurried over the way to be able to confront Shin first. He kept running and the shackles kept beating. It failed to stop anymore, a slim continuous beat. He reached the school gate where Shin already stood waiting. Mayuko too. They were talking, it was too late.
"Hey! Kyo" Shin called out with a smile.
He caught up and stopped.
"What happened?" he questioned.
"Sorry man, yesterday I met that old shit but he wouldn't say a bit more than what we already know. The victims were going through mental trauma for days, no idea of any book or any tale or something. One was hospitalized due to the mental trauma and when he got well, he cut himself"

Such a relief nothing exposed. The only word registered inside primarily was that he didn't come to know anything. Shin apologized as Kyosuke pat his back playfully and walked in together. At least he won't be into this.
Since then, the shackles wouldn't stop banging even if it's in the slightest scale.

It came to exceed disturbance so he tried an escape to the terrace, just a break between classes. However, the time he reached the stairs, Mayuko rushed down and strolled off the opposite side without noticing him a bit.
He scurried up and walked into the terrace, Shin was already there, quiet and alone. Was he with her? Did he actually come to know? 9r did she tell him herself?.
He stopped by the fencing, beside Shin. Not a word to each other for a while.
"Did that Yukino chick contact you?" Shin spoke up.
"Not exactly".
"Kyo, yesterday night when I talked to the officer he told me more than what we knew."
"Yes? What is it then?"
"You see, the guy who was hospitalized before suicide was Mayuko's elder brother and the one who helped passing down the curse on you was her". He believed it would br shocking for Kyo
"I know". Shin looked at him, stunned instead.
"Since when?"
"Only recently"
"And you two didn't bother to tell anything to me?"
"I didn't want to involve you into this mess"
Shin grit his teeth. "You jackass, aren't I your buddy?" "That's why I wanted to put you out of this mess, what if it passes on to any of you? i was scared, I still am but you got involved and for Mayuko, she was already into this" his brows dropped.
Shin calmed himself and hit his head gently "I am sure she did it for her own reasons because she likes you allot and would never do such things to you. Please don't hate her Kyo"
Kyosuke chuckled. "It's weird but I couldn't be pissed at her"

Mayuko gently clutches her fists listening from behind the stairs.

"I know she likes me but......I do love Sakura so..."

"Wait, she is your stepmother now. Wasn't if all over? It was right?"
Kyosuke sighed. "I failed in forgetting her. I still love her, she does too"
"You said your old man was out. So, dont tell me you both..."
"We did. We had sex several times"
Listening to this, Shin burst out grabbing his collar and pulled his close "What the fuck are you saying? She is your mother now?"
"I never asked for it, I am crazy for her and so we....we did it" gloominess reflected clearly to his eyes but Shin was too raged for it. He shove him down the floor.
"And about Mayuko huh!? Don't you care about her feelings? She loves you, asshole"
"I know, but I can never return her feelings. I am willing to confront her regardless what she did"

Reluctant tears rolled down her cheeks after getting to hear the truth. She quietly strolled down the stairs.

Shin dropped to his knees. "You are the one she loves so how can you even hurt her? How dare you hurt her?" all which was held back slowly began to melt.
urt
"Your right" he slowly sat up. "I did hurt her maybe that's why I am fated to suffer from this curse"

"This might be what is best for me"