Chapter Thirty-One: Well That Could Have Gone Better

-Kuori-

‘Well this is going well.’ I thought sitting back in my chair. ‘I have no clue what to talk to her about, plus she just doesn’t want to talk to me. What is up with her lately?’ I was surprised that no one recognized me considering that I just quickly threw on a few nice clothes and once I changed put my hair up in a low ponytail. I rolled up my sleeve a bit and the markings were about half way up my forearm. I rolled my sleeve back down and looked at her.

“So how are you doing with school?” I asked trying to break the silence.

“You should already know, considering that you apparently know everything about me.” She answered back.

“Miyuki please drop the attitude, it doesn’t suit you.” I stated and she stuck her tongue out at me.

“I’ll do whatever I want.” She mentioned.

I sighed “I asked you out on a date to get you to know me a bit more, not be little miss attitude.” I commented.

“Then you should have just let me go home instead of come on this date.” She huffed.

I sat forward “You wouldn’t have said that last weekend when I asked.” I smirked and her face turned red.

“You tricked me is what you did.” She replied.

Our food came and somewhat ate in silence. I could tell that she kept glancing at me but I didn’t look up from my plate. Once I paid for the bill we left the restaurant.

“Ok, let’s go.” I said.

“Take me home?” She asked.

“Come on.” I took her hand and pulled her along.

“F-Fine.” She said and she started shivering. I just kind of pulled her away I didn’t wait for her to grab a coat before we left.

“Here.” I said taking off my jacket and putting it over her shoulders. I had a long sleeved shirt on anyways so it didn’t bother me.

“Isn’t that sweet…” A random couple said as we walked down the street.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw her pull the jacket around her a bit more. “Just a short walk away now.”

“Are we-“

“Going to see a movie.” I finished.

“Do I get to-“

“Choose the movie? Nope.” I finished again.

“But that’s not-“

“Fair? Hey I’m paying, so I’m choosing.” I answered opening the door for her. She huffed and walked into the building. Miyuki went over and looked at the posters and I got us the tickets to the newest horror movie. I tapped her on the shoulder when I was done and gave her, her ticket.

Then we gave our tickets to the stub guy “Enjoy the show. Theater 4 on your left.” He told us and when we got there she stopped and looked at the movie poster that was outside the door.

“Nonononononononononono, any movie but this one…” She begged.

“You’ll be just fine, I heard it isn’t that scary.” I pulled her into the movie theater and we went all the way up to the top in the corner. “Tell you what we’ll sit waaay back here.” She crossed her arms and sat down then the theater darkened and the previews started.

The movie wasn’t that bad. I glanced over and Miyuki and she looked terrified. “It’s ok, I’m right here.” I whispered to her.

“Shut up, I don’t want to be here.” She retorted.

“Fine.” I sighed and went back to watching the movie. A loud bang came from the movie and Miyuki yelped. “Miyuki, we can leave if you want?” I offered.

“N-no, I can do this.” She said trying to encourage herself.

I felt her hand slipped under mine but I didn’t know if it was a reaction to the movie or not so I didn’t do anything and I completely forgot about her hand being there.

“You sure, I don’t mind leaving.” I told her.

“I’m sure, I’ve been a jerk tonight.”

“I’m the one that should have let you choose the movie.” I stated.

“And I should have enjoyed myself. Even thought I kept being a brat, you’ve been so polite.” She looked down.

“Don’t worry about it.” I said.

“T-Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Another loud explosion came from the screen and Miyuki jumped and buried her face into my shoulder.

“C-Can we go?” She whispered.

“Sure I answered and we stood up. She pulled me out of the theater and to the nearest exit. When we got outside she leaned against the wall. “You alright? Did it scare you that much?” I asked.

“I’m alright, I just couldn’t breathe.” She answered pushing off the wall and I started walking her home.

“Why? Is it something I did?” I asked confused.

“I, I, maybe…being so close to you.” She replied.

“I can stand further away.” I told her.

“N-No.” She shook her head.

“Alright, I won’t.” I answered and pulled up my sleeve a little again to see where the mark was forgetting that she was walking right next to me.

“Are you ok?” She asked.

“Yea, I’m fine.” I answered pulling my sleeve down.

“Is that a tattoo?”

“Yeah, you can call it that.” I lied. Well technically it did look like a tattoo.

“That’s cool.”

“Thanks.” I rubbed my arm and I could feel her still looking at me. “What is it?” I asked as I kept looking forward.

“N-Nothing.”

“Is it my Tattoo?”

“Um…”

“Did you want to see it?” I looked at her and she nodded. I took my shirt off so she could see it also it allowed me to see how high it was on my arm. It was up to my shoulder. “It wasn’t this high up on my arm earlier.” I muttered.

“Yeah…” She said and I put my shirt back on.

“You’re welcome.” I looked at her again and she blushed “You’re so cute when you blush.” I chuckled.

“That’s what all my friends say. Even Kuori.” She said.

“What, you and that kid are just friends? And what about the other one that was with you when I was stealing?” I asked knowing full well who it was.

“That’s Tai and Kuori doesn’t like me like that.” She answered.

“Oh, alright, I’ll stop talking about it.”

“Ok.” She accidently bumped my arm. “Sorry.”

“It’s alright don’t worry about it.” I told her.

“Why do you always seem to know things about me that only my friends would know?” She asked suddenly. I looked away from her “Have you been watching me?”

“No, I haven’t been watching you.” I answered and I started felling really warm.

“Ok, for a second there…hey, you ok?” She asked.

“Yea, I’m fine.” I answered, but it honestly felt like I was going to be sick.

“You don’t look so hot.” She said.

“The thing on my arm isn’t a tattoo. It’s something from the gem that I took last week.” That was the only thing that I could come up with is I completely lost the gem and the only explanation of where it went is it absorbed into my skin when I fell asleep.

“W-What’s it doing?”

“Slowly working it’s way up my arm.” I answered.

“That’s not good…”

“I guess…” I stopped walking and I flet my body pulsed.

“Zero?” Miyuki said stopping and turning around to look at me.

“Ugh…” I clutched my chest.

“Zero!” She yelled running back and grabbing my arm.

“Back away…from me…please.” I asked.

“N-no.” She declined.

“Please Mi…” I begged and I could see my bangs fading back to blonde.

“I’m scared what’s happening?” She said and I fell to my knees and I was breathing heavily.

“W-What? I don’t understand…”

I couldn’t take the pain anymore and I ended up going unconscious.

End