Chapter 40

Caleb was asked to leave the room shortly after being introduced to Akane's parents. Part of him wanted to call his mother and let her know what he just discovered. Ultimately, however, he couldn't risk his girlfriend overhearing. A text message was, likewise, a no-go, as Akane would often go through his phone when he wasn't looking.

He glanced towards the living room entrance, barely able to make out Akane's quiet muttering to her two dead parents. He then peered down the hall towards a glowing light coming from a far doorway. Caleb checked over his shoulder once more before quietly making his way to the door, muffling his footsteps in the dark lightless hall.

Peering inside, Caleb found what could only be described as a menagerie of total obsession. The glowing came from multiple battery-operated lanterns, which bathed the room in eerie orange light. Used napkins folded into origami lined the walls in equal numbers to polaroids of him walking the halls, oblivious to the camera pointed at his face. The walls had been plastered with diary entries, all rambling on and on about the same subject.

Finally, he found the shrine. Caleb approached the Butsudan in the corner of the room and inspected each effigy that could be found within. Among them was another photo, a jar of hair, and a sock he almost immediately recognized. Searching further, Caleb spotted on the very top shelf of the Butsudan a pair of old chopsticks.

He nearly jumped out of his shoes upon hearing the door slam shut behind him.

"It's not polite to go snooping through a lady's things, Darling."

He swallowed back the lump in his throat and slowly turned around. His girlfriend didn't look angry, necessarily, just a bit unstable. The look she was giving him, combined with the eerie glow of the lanterns and eyes that were just slightly too wide to be natural, sent an unfamiliar chill down his spine.

"S...sorry, babe." He quickly shook it off and cleared his throat, speaking far more confidently. "I take it this is your room?"

She nodded, still not moving or smiling. "I wasn't planning on showing it to you yet. Father would get very upset if he knew you were in here without him knowing."

He chuckled somewhat nervously. "Well...you know me well enough to know I'd never try anything disrespectful, my love. Your father has nothing to worry about."

Akane finally smiled and giggled sweetly. "So, do you like it? This is where it all began, after all. My feelings for you, I mean."

Caleb nodded. "That shrine of yours is especially nice. It's almost like you're my first worshiper."

At that, her smile slowly faded, and she narrowed her eyes at him dangerously. "But I'm more than that now, right?"

That look she was giving him, Caleb wasn't used to feeling this nervous quiver in his chest. "Of course. You know that I...."

Before he could finish, Akane pulled out what looked like a garage remote and clicked one of the buttons. The room became enveloped in UV light as the lanterns switched modes.

Caleb, meanwhile, was petrified.

"I've been tinkering, Darling," Akane giggled in a slightly menacing tone, her smile growing along with her eyes. "Aren't I such a clever girl?"

Despite his best efforts to maintain his composure, Caleb backed up.

"You're always going on and on about how smart I am, my love." She slowly approached him, that same look in her eyes. "So you should know...I can tell when you're hiding something from me."

She got a hair's breadth away from him, the mask of sanity having effectively slipped off her face entirely.

"Didn't we say we'd always be transparent with one another?" Akane gently caressed his cheek, her eyes seemingly boring straight through him at that moment. "That's what you promised me, right? Complete and total transparency?"

"I...I did."

"So then, why are you hiding shit from me?"

Akane shoved him down onto the bed and pinned him there. Caleb had known for some time his girlfriend was ridiculously strong for her size, but he didn't consider just how strong she truly was until right now. It felt like he was being pinned down by steel rebar.

"You know I love you more than anything in this world." Her voice was shaken, gaze fixed on him with total manic obsession. "Whatever is on your mind, you can share it with me, Darling. We share everything together, remember?"

"Akane, if there's something I did to upset you, then...."

"Upset?" she laughed in an unstable tone. "Why should I be upset? I'm just concerned. That's all. You don't seem very happy right now. My parents love you. I love you. What could possibly be wrong that's causing you to make that face?"

She slowly lowered her face down to his, eyes bulging. Caleb subconsciously pressed himself further into the mattress.

"Why the long face, Darling? Tell me. Your precious Akane is here for you."

Caleb took a moment to gather his thoughts, fully aware his life could very well depend on these next few words.

"It's just...I...."

He finally managed to find his center again and speak with far more composure. Lying would get him nowhere; she was far too intelligent, far too observant for him to get away with it. The only way this didn't end badly for him was to give a half-truth.

"I have to be honest, Akane. I feel like you didn't fully prepare me for just how bad your parents' condition was."

She frowned at that, her death grip slowly loosening. "What do you mean?"

"Well, it's just that I feel a bit at a disadvantage here," he admitted calmly. "I didn't want to say anything in front of them out of respect, but it really threw me for a loop."

Akane considered his words for a moment before moving aside and letting him sit up. She seemed to be back to normal for the most part, albeit now looking slightly guilty.

"So you're saying I'm the one who wasn't being transparent?"

He sighed. "Look, Akane, I know you would never intentionally hide things from me. I trust the things you say. I really do."

She smiled at that, and he felt a strange sense of relief wash over him. "I'm glad you trust me, Darling."

"But I also know how insecure you are about your home life," Caleb insisted. "And whether it was a conscious decision or not, there's a lot I'm seeing that you neglected to mention."

She fidgeted a bit self-consciously. "Like what?"

"Be honest with me. How long have you been going without electricity?"

She turned her head away in shame. "I...I don't know what you're talking about. The breakers are just off. Dad doesn't want to...."

"Akane." He spoke gently but with force. "Come on now. You know better."

She buried her face in her hands and shook her head from side to side. "I'm sorry! I should have told you! It's just so embarrassing. They promised me they'd get the electric bill paid this month. They promised me!"

Caleb hugged her tight as she broke down crying. His heart was still racing at a mile a minute, but he put it to the back of his mind.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of, my love. Nothing."

She finally managed to pull herself away and wipe her eyes dry. "I don't?"

"Of course not," he insisted, taking her hands in his again. "Akane, I don't care that your family is poor. I don't care about your parents' condition. It doesn't change how I feel one bit. If anything, my respect for you has grown even more."

Akane slowly brightened. "Really?"

He smiled and nodded. "Seeing this, what you've been forced to deal with all this time, I've come to realize something."

"What's that?"

"I've been underestimating you," Caleb insisted honestly. "Specifically, I've been underestimating how hard you've had to work just to get to where you are now."

She frowned at that. "It's been tough, but I've survived." Akane sighed. "Caleb, it's important you know that your family's wealth has nothing to do with my feelings for you. Part of why I was so nervous telling you about my situation was the fear you might think I was just using you."

He placed a hand against her cheek, sincerity in his eyes. "How could I ever think that? Akane, I know we've only been dating for a short time, but do you honestly think I'd be here right now, meeting your parents like this, if I thought for one second all you wanted was my money?"

Akane chuckled at that, smiling again. "Well, I'm glad you understand." Despite her smile, she still looked a little down about something. "All my life, it's felt like I've only ever been something to be pitied. I just want to know you see me as an equal. Not just as your girlfriend, but as your future wife. I want to know that this wonderful journey we've started together is a two-way street."

She placed a hand on his leg, a look of worry in her eyes.

"You meant what you said, right? You really do respect me? Even if I get a bit clingy sometimes or a little insecure about my home life, you don't ever look down on me, do you?"

He shook his head assuredly. "Never."

She finally beamed at him again before hugging Caleb tight. "Thank you. I know I shouldn't have to ask, but...."

"... it's still good to hear it. I understand," he assured. "Akane, I'm not gonna sit here and pretend like I have a clue what it was like growing up in your house. Because if today has opened my eyes to anything, it's that I clearly don't. But all the same, I'm proud of you for making it this far."

Try as she might to fight it, Akane started tearing up again. She kissed him fiercely, pulling Caleb in tight even as tears streamed down her face, losing herself in a fit of passion as she clung to his lapel.

Only to then pull away and quickly slap a hand over Caleb's stunned mouth.

"Shoot! That's my Dad coming down the hall," she whispered frantically.

Obviously, Caleb heard absolutely nothing, yet he played along regardless.

"He can't know you're in here. Quick, hide under the bed!"

Despite the fact that the floor was positively filthy, Caleb begrudgingly slid under the bed while she spoke to her phantom Dad through the door. One thing he could say with absolute certainty.

After today, he would never complain about his mother's sex talks ever again.