XII

Author’s Note: Hello whoever’s reading this. I know I haven’t updated in three weeks or so. For that, this chapter is long. Good luck! And happy new year! I pray this year you get what your heart wants. ヽ(*≧ω≦)ﾉ

*

“You look better.” The doctor hummed as she scrutinized the clipboard in her hand. “Well, all you need is food and a long day of rest.” She adjusted her glasses and gazed at Kimi as he rubbed the spot where the cannula was inserted. “I’ll send someone to get you food and a change of clothes.”

Kara leaned forward in her seat. “Doc—”

“Just call me Haruna.” She smiled warmly, her red lips widening against her black skin.

Kara smiled weakly. “Haruna, thank you for everything, but... I think it’s best if I take Kimi home. He’ll... He’ll feel better when he gets home.”

Haruna shrugged. “Okay.” She turned the page of the clipboard and bit the corner of her lip. Her brows knotted as she said, “Mrs. Mikaelis I need to discuss something private with you.”

“Oh, okay. Um...” She looked at her son. “Kimi will you be alright?”

Kimi frowned. “I’m not a freaking child. Go.”

Haruna smirked. “That’s a good sign.”

Kara smiled. “He’s always like that.” She stood up. “Let’s go?”

“Yes.” Haruna led Kara out of the room.

Finally alone, Kimi sat back against a pillow and rubbed his sore hand. He kept on pondering about what he had dreamt of but he had no clue. He searched and searched but got nothing; he nibbled on his top lip and looked up at the bulb in thought.

What was it?

The door getting shut drew him out of his thoughts and when he saw who had entered, he frowned deeply.

“Dae-yang?”

Dae-yang fiddled with her fingers. “Hey. How’re you feeling?”

He grumbled, “like I escaped hell.”

Dae-yang raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? You don’t feel faint? Are you certain you—”

“Dae-yang I’m fine. I...” Kimi sighed. “Please don’t freaking make me remember what had happened, because all I remember is that it was something that I don’t want to freaking remember.” He rubbed his temple and downcasted his gaze, his brows knotted. “I... I don’t think I remember what that happened.”

“Wait.” Dae-yang moved closer to the bed with slow, careful steps. “You don’t remember anything?” She raised a brow in confusion. “Nothing?”

Kimi shook his head. “All I remember is blood.” Kimi looked up, his face pinched into a grimace. “Lots and lots of freaking blood.”

Dae-yang knitted her eyebrows. “Are you su—”

“What part of ‘all I remember is blood’ don’t you fucking get?! I know I was fucked up by that image and the only thing my fucking brain can fucking remember is blood!” He groaned angrily through gritted teeth as his head started throbbing. “Fuck this!” He panted as he tried to calm his nerves.

Dae-yang wheezed and nodded in understanding. “I... I-I’ll just leave you alone.” She turned to leave, her shoulders slumped. “Bye.”

When she pulled open the door,  she came face to face with Duan’s distressed face. She stared at him with wide, confused eyes.

“Oh. Hey,” Duan greeted, avoiding Dae-yang’s gaze and fixed his gaze on the wall beside her head.

Dae-yang nodded in response and walked out, leaving the door open for Duan. Duan peeped into the room to see Kimi staring angrily at his vibrating hands; he gulped and tried to calm himself.

“Bold,” he encouraged as he walked into the room and shut the door. “Bold.” He avoided Kimi’s raging expression and placed his forehead on the door. “Be bol—”

“Fuck you!”

Duan jerked and turned around in fear. “Why?”

“Because you’re fucking annoying, irritating, you piss me off and if you want to comfort me you can go fuck yourself because I’m mad!” His head started pounding because of his yelling, and he moaned in anguish and massaged his temples with the tips of his fingers.

Duan rushed to his side. “Careful.” He sat in the seat Kara had been sitting in. “Calm down.”

Kimi glared at him and locked his jaw. “Thanks for the fucking comfort.” He laid back. “You can leave.”

Duan sighed and stood. “Kim... Kimi this... what that happened... it...” He sighed. “Have you forgiven me?”

“I’ll forgive you if you freaking stop bothering my life,” he drawled tiredly. He scratched the back of his hand with glazed over eyes.

Duan nodded slowly and peered at his leather-banded watch. He frowned when the watch suddenly stopped walking. When he checked to see what had made it abruptly seize up, he found nothing. Strange, hadn’t he just purchased it the previous day? He shook his head in confusion.

“Aren’t you leaving already?” Kimi droned as he laid his head on the pillow.

“If you want me—”

Duan turned as Kara walked into the room, a frown on her face.

Kara stopped walking when she noticed Duan. “What are you doing here?” she asked sharply, her voice quiet.

“Oh. I uh... came here to see if Kimi is doing fine.” He rubbed his neck and blushed faintly. “He’s... better.”

“Wrong choice of words Duan.” She noticed her son glaring at the back of Duan’s head. “You better go before he eye-fries you into a shish kebab,” she said with a raised brow.

Duan jumped away from the bed and scratched his head, peered over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of Kimi’s gloomy expression and jerked at its intensity. “I-I better leave.” He looked at Kara. “Yeah.” He rushed out of the room, leaving Kara with nothing but a sigh and a shake of her head.

Just as she turned to ask Kimi if he needed anything, he was already dozing off, his eyelashes fluttering lightly.

She smiled weakly, pain in her eyes. “What will I do without you?” she whispered, her voice choked with pain. “Absolutely nothing.”

*

“Hey, d’you guys hear about the person that was killed at the supermarket?” a boy questioned as he moved closer to Raja and nudged him. “I heard that a boy who had seen the corpse was screaming like mad and he vomited and suddenly fainted.” He shuddered. “What a girl.”

Kimi froze, a loose grip on the door of his locker.

“Stop. You don’t know what that had happened,” Rin warned and stared at Raja. “I know a distant relative, a man, who faints at the sight of just a drop of blood.” He glared at the boy who made the statement. “Watch your mouth.”

Raja grinned as the boy froze. “Yeah.” He patted the boy on his shoulder. “Watch your mouth because what I actually fucking heard was that the boy got to meet our upperclassman’s hot mother,” he voiced and was rewarded with an icy gaze from Rin.

They never understand, except you, Kimi thought with a sigh as he put his books in his bag but they slipped out of his hands. “And then there’s my freaking curse,” he grunted in frustration as he crouched to pick his books and bag.

The hallway slowly emptied as students rushed to their various classes, leaving Kimi alone to struggle with his stuck zip.

“Shit,” he growled as the zip’s slide broke. He brought it to his face and grumbled, “why does the freaking universe hate me?”

A sudden light tap echoed through the hallway and Kimi twitched, his bag dropping to the floor again.

“That sound better be freaking worth—”

It sounded again, then it was followed by series of whirrs and a snap. Kimi held his breath and his legs slowly quivered as the tapping became louder and closer. The closer the sound got, the louder his heart thumped and thundered against his eardrums. He held a bated breath as the noise rivalled the thundering of his heart. He—

“Raja you need to stop spinning that toy of yours before you injure me,” came the plain voice of Rin.

“Deuce,” Raja moaned as he twirled the string of the yo-yo around his finger. “You better be right about this. Otherwise—” He stopped as he noticed a statuesque Kimi. “Oh hey. It’s Clover’s favourite subject to gossip about.” He nudged Rin. “It’s ‘zombie b—”

“If you complete that sentence I will cut off your dick and eat it,” Rin muttered with a blank face.

Raja’s eyes widened, and his olive skin flushed. “Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

Kimi shook his head, his fear dispersing, and picked his bag, held it to his chest and turned to leave.

The speakers suddenly crackled and Kimi groaned. It screeched a little before it became clear. Shuffling was heard from the speakers before Jianbing’s voice blasted out of them.

“A-All students are e... expected to converge at the hall. E-Everyone is expected to be there in f-five minutes. Thank you.”

Kimi clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“That was strange,” Raja drawled as he shoved his yo-yo into his pocket. “Race you to the hall?”

Rin blinked. “No.”

Raja’s shoulders slumped but he jerked as Kimi marched past them, sparing him a murderous look. Rin just had the faintest smirk on his face and followed Raja’s gaze that was fixated on Kimi’s figure.

Raja heaved a sigh of defeat. “Rock, paper, scissors that he’s really mad at me and I still need to apologize for what I said the other week.” He raised his fist and they played; he played a scissors against Rin’s paper. “You’re right.” He nodded and looked up at a blank-faced Rin. “I really should still apologize wholeheartedly, shouldn’t I?”

Rin watched Raja with a slight smirk as he walked away. “I didn’t say anything.”

*

S

tudents piled into the hall in groups, their whisperings holding a worried tone. Kimi just stood with a slowly growing frown as a consequence of seats being quickly occupied; he looked around and spotted Dae-yang waving him over.

“Kimi, over here!”

Kimi’s frown softened and he moved towards where she sat. When he got closer to the roll of chairs a smiling Duan blocked his path.

“Hey. I uh... saved a seat beside mine. Wanna come—”

“No. I already have a seat.” He moved away without waiting to listen to what Duan had to say.

“Hey Kimi.” Dae-yang motioned to the spare seat and sat on hers.

Kimi just sat without a word. “Thank you,” he whispered and he folded his arms.

Dae-yang shrugged. “No problem. That’s what friends are for.”

“Friends? Since fucking when?” Raja expressed in surprise as he sat behind Kimi.

Dae-yang simply stared at Raja and then at Rin who sat behind her with a small wave. She opened her mouth to speak but shut it as the microphone buzzed.

“Good afternoon students,” Principal Aardvark greeted as she stood formally before the microphone. “You must all be surprised as to why you’ve all been suddenly called out of class.” She cleared her throat. “For months now the board of directors of Rhodes Academy had been discussing about how to go about the excursion that was promised during the first semester.” She unfolded the paper in her hands. “Just recently the school had been saved by our very friendly parents who had decided to sponsor Rhodes Academy’s trip to Ashville.”

The silence of the hall was immediately shrouded by the outbursts of students as they cheered and expressed their shocked happiness. Dae-yang froze as she heard this news and gripped the edge of her top.

“Isn’t Ashville like the city where Qulture is going to hold their recent concert?” Raja asked Rin in shock and got a nod as an answer. “That’s so fucking cool.”

“Fucking cool only because Qulture is holding a concert there,” Dae-yang piped with a nudge of her head. “The other half...” She looked back at the two friends and pursed her lips.

“But, there’s a catch to this.” Aardvark’s expression hardened. “Involvement in this activity is compulsory because your attendance will determine your final grades at the end of this semester. And the last bit”—she loosened the collar of her shirt—“we’ll be travelling by water.”

Chaos ensued as students stood up in shock. Some of them started shouting, some talked hysterically, all their voices toppling over the other.

“Well that’s”—Dae-yang cleared her throat—“fun. ‘Fun’ being ‘I hope to see Qulture perform live before I die’!” She released a broken laugh.

“This is so freaking stupid.” Kimi clicked his tongue. “If the sponsors freaking think that travelling through Rose Water is easy then wait till we all die in its seastorm.” His eyes softened when he realized that he will get to see Aurum Caedis after all these years.

“That’s so not fucking cool.” Raja slapped his hand on Kimi’s shoulder. “Hey. Have you ever—”

“Get your fucking hands off me!” Kimi glared at Raja and the boy yelped and retracted his hand.

“The guy’s really mad at me,” Raja mumbled in Hindi and looked at Rin. “Should I still?” he asked in English.

“Damn you,” Rin cussed in Japanese with a stony face.

“Students! Please calm...” Aardvark groaned and held a hand to her throat. Mrs. Yin rushed to her and whispered something in her ear and she nodded and moved away from the microphone.

Jiaozi exhaled slowly. “SHUT UP!”

Everyone froze in the nick of time, pursing their lips, and this brought about a thin, sharp silence.

“Good. It is mandatory and no excuses. Know that this decision was taken critically and we promise that no harm will come to you.” A student rushed to her and gave a piece of paper; she held it up for the students to see. “With me here is the form you are required to present to your parents. We’ve contacted them and told them about the terms and conditions.” She dropped her hand. “While it’s being passed around let’s wait for our sponsor to arrive in order to brief us.”

“Since when did Aardvark and Yin Fen become close?” Raja asked to nobody in particular.

“Since your brain learned that it needed to evolve,” Rin quipped with a half-smile.

Dae-yang shrugged with a blink. “I don’t know. Maybe they know each o—” She paused as Jianbing stood in front of her, presenting a form for her to take. She stared up at her, her expression like that of a fish out of water. “Jian—”

“J-Just take it.” Jianbing shook the form with a slight frown.

“O-Okay,” Dae-yang stuttered as she took the form.

Raja snickered. “You’ve got it ba—”

“Fucking shut up!” Kimi exclaimed as he took the form. He glanced over his shoulder and gave Raja a death glare. “Stop. Talking,” he hissed through gritted teeth.

Raja gulped as Kimi turned his head. He looked at Rin. “What’d I do this—”

“I’m still damning you,” Rin whispered as he examined the form.

Raja merely sighed and slumped in his chair but quickly sat up with wide eyes as the sponsor walked in. “Fuck me if I’m blind”—Rin froze and his form slipped out of his hand—“but isn’t that Duan’s father?”

Rin, Dae-yang, Kimi—everybody!—blinked in shock as Ace Jaeger walked into the hall dressed in a formal manner. The hall erupted in chaos again.

“Fuck,” Kimi mumbled in surprise as he watched, like he was hit by an earthquake, as Ace walked up to the stage.

“Now I know why he smells like a money tree,” Rin drawled as Ace was welcomed by the teachers. “That little shit,” he said in Japanese with a singsong voice.

“Please quiet down as Mr. Jaeger addresses us,” Jiaozi voiced before making way for Ace.

“Good afternoon students. Um... It’s nice to see that you’re all taking this news very well. I...”

“Taking it very well my fucking ass,” Raja grumbled and plucked his wallet out of his pocket. “Duan fucking owes me money. A lot.”

Dae-yang shrugged nonchalantly. “Maybe he isn’t daddy’s favourite. He could have been adopted, taken from the street, fostered—”

“Dae-yang freaking shut up and watch your tongue!” Kimi warned with a shake of his head. “Insensitive.”

Dae-yang huffed and slid down her seat, her arms folded.

“... We apologize for any abruptness. Thank you.”

Nobody clapped as he walked back down the stage. Everyone was still trapped in a bubble of confusion and surprise.

“Thank you Mr. Jaeger. Sorry for taking your time and the late announcement. You may all leave.”

Surprise and amusement was expressed by students as they walked out of the hall. Some shot surprised, dirty looks at Duan as he walked past them, his head held low.

“Excuse me, I need to go talk to someone,” Dae-yang muttered as she stood and followed the crowd out of the hall.

Raja and Rin stood and Rin motioned to Kimi with narrowed eyes.

“The dude won’t talk to me,” Raja whined.

“Make him,” Rin hissed as he watched Kimi rush out of his seat.

Raja dragged out a groan and rushed after Kimi. “Hey! Wait! Hold up!”

Kimi didn’t look behind him as he marched out of the hall, his hood pulled up.

Duan stood straight as Kimi walked past him. “Hey Kim. Kimi!”

“What?!” Kimi spun on his heels and glared up at Duan. “What the heck do you want?”

Duan sighed and scratched the back of his neck. “I still want to apolo—”

“There’s nothing to freaking apologize about. It was just a freaking mistake Duan.” Kimi exhaled through his nose. “Cut it out. You’re freaking starting to annoy me. But...” He felt his face grow hot.

“But?” Duan raised an eyebrow.

Kimi sighed. “Because of your family I get to finally see Qulture perform live. So... I forgive you you freaking ass,” he mumbled in a hushed voice.

A blush warmed Duan’s cheeks and he smiled shyly. “You’ll have to thank my father for that one.” He blinked rapidly with a sigh. “I had no idea he was sponsoring a trip. So...” He shrugged with a drooped face.

Kimi rolled his eyes and turned to leave but was suddenly gripped firmly by Raja. “What the fuck?!” He pulled away from him and turned to see a shocked Raja, his hands up in surrender. “You.”

Raja scratched his head. “Yeah, me. Um...”

“What the fuck do you want?”

“I just want to apo—”

“What is with people and apologizing to me today?” Kimi pinched the bridge of his nose.

“I just want to apologize for being a little shit and calling you a fucking girl the other day. I...” Raja sighed.

Duan stared in surprise at his classmate. “When, why and how?”

Kimi glowered in realization and folded his arms. “My second day in this school when I saw a beheaded man and I had a panic attack and he”—Kimi poked Raja’s chest—“called me a fucking girl.”

Duan raised his eyebrows and looked at Raja. “I told you that your tongue will—”

“Shut the fuck up dude. Squirt over here is already pissed at me. Rin is—”

“Squirt?” Kimi raised his middle finger and stomped away, people moving out of the way in order to avoid his wrath.

“Yep. That went—”

Raja gripped Duan’s neck tightly and squeezed. “You thief. I want my money back.”

Duan gulped but his spit got stuck in his throat. “I—”

“I asked you to apologize to Mikaelis not strangle Jaeger.” Rin pulled Raja by his collar away from Duan and made him stand beside him. He sighed and stared blankly at Duan. “You owe me five hundred dollars.” He held Duan’s collar with his free hand. “Pay up otherwise your future will be dark.”

Duan gulped. “Rin I don’t have—”

“Do as he fucking says man otherwise you’d be screwed up,” Raja said, his tone serious.

“Shut up. I didn’t tell you to talk Maikal.” Rin suspired and matched away with the two stumbling boys. “Let’s go settle this like adults.”

“By dragging us by the collar?!” Duan exclaimed as he almost stumbled into somebody.

“No, by settling one another.”

“Mummy I’m sorry,” Raja whined dramatically.

“Screw you.”

*

Kimi shut the door and was greeted by his mother who had a ghastly expression.

“We need to talk. Follow me,” Kara ordered and she walked to her bedroom.

Kimi followed her with a surprised expression.

The bed sunk underneath Kimi as he sat on his mother’s bed and watched as Kara perused round the room as she searched through the drawers. Her hair flung around as it was finally let out of its bun. Fat balls of sweat rolled down her neck and dripped to the floor. This made him lift an eyebrow.

“Mother is there anything I can do to help?” He moved to stand but Kara stopped him with a wave of her hand.

“No. Just sit.”

After a minute of searching, Kara finally pulled out a metallic box from underneath a cabinet in her closet. With an tired exhale, she stood and walked to sit beside Kimi.

“Please, Kimi, whatever I tell you today”—she looked seriously into Kimi’s eyes—“keep it to yourself.”

Kimi nodded with pursed lips. He watched silently as his mother produced the pen she had given him from her pocket. Kara stared at the pen strangely before inserting it into the keyhole in the box. She turned the pen and the box opened with a loud click.

Kimi’s eyes went wide at that.

Kara sighed as she brought out various items from the box: a picture, a lighter and a ring. “Kimi,” she sighed as she gave the picture to Kimi, “you have a sister.”

Author’s Note #2: how was the chapter? Did it tingle your curious senses? （＾ｖ＾）Please tell me thoughts and vote, comment and share. Love you all!