by Ash Masters
He placed a flower in her open palm, closing her fingers around it gently.
‘What’s this? A flower?’ Miyako smiled. ‘You shouldn’t have.’
‘Well I wanted to. I saw it and I thought of you.’
Facing the window, Miyako brought the flower to her nose. ‘I can’t tell what it is. I was never good with flowers.’
‘Don’t look at me, I’m a boy.’ Hido pointed out. ‘I’m not supposed to be good with flowers.’
Miyako continued to smell the delicate object fondly, admiring the gesture. She felt Hido’s heart, bathing in the warmth it gave off, the love and longing he felt for her. Feeling those genuine emotions was just as good as being able to see, in her opinion. If anything, I see better than most now. ‘Do you find it strange that in this world depriving itself of beauty, that flowers still bloom? They’re beautiful and it just makes me feel like there’s no place for them here.’ Miyako’s eyebrows drew together.
Hido made a sound that mixed a grunt with a sigh.
Miyako turned in her desk chair, sliding onto the bed to thoughtfully sit by Hido who was lying half on the bed. ‘What is it?’
‘Things are coming to an end.’
‘Things are about to end?...’ Miyako frowned, unable to believe it.
‘I hope.’ Hido murmured, standing up.
‘Where are you going?’
‘People are coming up to the door.’ He returned moments later with Kioshi and Kouji.
‘Kouji.’ Miyako said plainly.
Hido returned to the bed, sitting on it with legs crossed this time while Miyako sat on the edge. ‘Kioshi.’ Miyako finally acknowledged.
‘Miyako.’
‘So, what’s going on?’
‘We have to go. Right now.’
‘Right now?’ Hido looked surprised.
‘Right now. I have a feeling that our friends are in trouble down there, they’ve been gone a long time.’
‘I’m sure your dad’s friend can handle things. Right?’ his hands tightened on his lap. ‘Do you really think that we have the power to but an end to all of this?’
‘Honestly... I don’t know.’
Miyako, Kouji and Hido were surprised by Kioshi’s answer. ‘You say that and you want us to go?’ Hido remarked, shuffling along the bed to sit beside Miyako.
‘What I do know is that we don’t have a lot of time. Do you want to sit here and wait for Akira to send someone else to kill us? I believe that we can do it. We just need to believe in our own strength and in each other.’
‘People are only out to kill us because of you.’ Said Miyako.
‘Cut the guy some slack Miyako.’ Said Kouji, placing his hands in his pocket, not knowing what to do with them.
‘Cut him some slack? Because of him that woman came here and killed our classmates! You all follow this self-proclaimed leader! What makes him so special!?’
‘Miyako.’ Hido soothed.
‘NO! Tell me! What makes you so special Kioshi! Tell me!’ Against herself she began to cry.
‘I’m not special, Miyako.’ Kioshi looked to the ground.
‘If you’re not special! Then why is it that you can see and I can’t! Tell me that Kioshi! Look at me!’ Her voice changed, becoming threatening. ‘I can feel you Kioshi. I can feel the guilt tainting your heart. Ask yourself, why it is that both of us lost our eyes but the world gave you yours back? The world let you see again, it will let you take in the smiles of those who you will set free from this wretched place. And what do I have? I live in darkness! Darkness is all I have! It’s not fair! And you say that you’re not special!?’ Miyako crushed the flower in her hand, shaking her head wildly. ‘Don’t insult me! Don’t come into my house and insult me, Kioshi!’ Her lips pursed together.
Not knowing what to do all Kioshi could say was, ‘I’m sorry... I just...’ He trailed off, unable to find the right words.
‘Just get out of my house.’