Sweet Burden

by K L Ogden

  “Are you just going to avoid the conversation?” he raised an eyebrow.

  “You’re not going to tell me anything anyway. So I’m not really avoiding it,” she shrugged and left the room. She hurried downstairs as the phone rang again. Recognizing the number as the hospital, Hitomi grabbed the phone. “Hello?”

  “Hitomi, why didn’t you go to school today?” her mother asked.

  “I didn’t feel good.”

  “The school called me. I wish you would have told me this morning.”

  “Sorry. I just woke up.”

  “Well, just let me know next time.”

  “Fine mom. I’m going to get something to eat.”

  “There should be some soup in the cabinet. I’ll be home in a few hours to check on you. I might need to cover a shift tonight.”

  “Okay. Bye mom.” Hitomi hung up the phone and dug through the cabinets. She found some soup and after heating it up carried two bowls upstairs. When she walked into her room, Obi was still lying in bed but had kicked all the covers down to his feet. He sat up as she walked over and she handed him a bowl. “Hope you like chicken noodle.”

  “Thanks.”

  She sat down at the foot of the bed facing him, unable to take her eyes from him. His bare chest was sculpted and smooth. “How’s your back?”

  “Better.” He glanced up from the bowl and watched her staring at his upper body.

  She lowered her head and started eating the soup. “Is there anyone I need to call and tell them you are here?”

  “No.”

  “No parents or friends? Siblings? Girlfriend?”

  “No.”

  Hitomi let out a little huff of irritation. She was never going to find out anything about this guy.

  “What’s the dress for?” Obi asked.

  “Hmm?” she turned and looked at the red dress for the dance hanging on the outside of the closet. “Oh. Just a dance I’m going to Saturday night at the school.”

  “With that guy in the black car?”

  Her eyes moved back to his. “No. I mean, yes. Sort of.”

  “Which is it?”

  “He’s going too, but we’re going with friends.” She felt she needed to make it absolutely clear that she was not interested in Bradley. “He’s just a friend of a friend.”

  “Mm hm,” Obi nodded.

  “I mean, he’s not my boyfriend or anything.”

  “You said that before.”

  “Then why did you ask?”

  “I didn’t ask.”

  Hitomi rolled her eyes and lowered her head again as she felt her cheeks blush. They finished eating and Hitomi took the bowls and the bowl of bloody water downstairs. She did the dishes and went back upstairs. Obi had lay back down in bed and pulled the covers up over him, which she was grateful. She was having a difficult time focusing on anything except his bare torso.

  “Is there anything else you need?” Hitomi asked moving towards the bed.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “Is there anything you want to do?”

  Obi raised an eyebrow and she felt her stomach do a flip. He stared at her for a minute and then glanced behind her. “Why don’t you pick out a book?”

  She turned around eyeing her bookshelf. “What do you like to read?”

  “Anything. Everything. Pick out your favorite.”

  Hitomi scanned the spins of each title and then reached over grabbing The Mists of Avalon. She carried it over to the bed and held it out to him. “Here.”

  “Would you read it?” he asked.

  She pulled the book back and clutched it to her chest. She thought about pulling the chair over to sit by the bed as she read, but she surveyed the empty area next to him. He scooted back even further for her.

  ****

  Obi watched her wide eyed as she sat down on the bed and swung her legs up. She propped herself up against the pillows and opened the book, and then glanced down at him.

  “I’ll read if you promise to get more rest,” Hitomi smiled down at him. Obi gave her a slight nod and she began reading.

  He lay there listening to her velvety voice and watching the way that her lips curved around every word. After the hell he had been through, he felt as though he was finally in heaven. Obi had been angry earlier, but just her presence easily soothed him. He hadn’t been angry with her, but angrier with himself. He did not want her to see him weak. Obi didn’t want to need her help. He should be the one protecting her. He had let himself get too emotionally attached to her, so attached that his body ached when not near her or touching her. Wanting to hate her for making him feel, he needed only a glimpse of her smile or a whiff of her scent for those feelings to completely disappear. He had tried to stay away from her. He had even tried to push her away, but she wouldn’t let him.

  Obi was designed to be a cold, heartless being. But he could not be that way with her. She brought out emotions he never could have imagined. She had changed him and he knew he would never be the same. She was constantly in his thoughts. Hitomi had simply become his reason for being.

  “I thought you were going to rest,” Hitomi interrupted his thoughts.

  “Hm?” His eyes widened as he realized she had caught him staring at her. “I am resting.”

  She smirked slightly and he sighed closing his eyes. As soon as she started reading again he stole another glance at her. She was utterly beautiful. Her eyes shined like the glistening of the sun off the ocean. But it was her mouth that entranced him. The way her lips moved completely mesmerized him making his breath stagger.

  Hitomi glanced down at him and he quickly shut his eyes. He inhaled deeply and let her scent travel through him warming every part of his body.

  He had gone against his every instinct and endured so much for these moments with her. Obi would never let her be hurt. He would kill anyone who threatened her. No one would ever complete his list.

  Obi woke up with a feeling of emptiness in his chest. His eyes fluttered open to the vacant spot on the bed. Instantly he felt overcome with worry. The book lay open to where she had left off reading. His eyes darted around the room as he sat up.

  Pulling the sheets back, he got out of bed and started for the doorway. Suddenly a scent filled his nostrils that he knew he should recognize but just couldn’t place it. His pulse quickened as he raced downstairs. Hitomi stood at the front door with her hand slowly pulling back the knob.

  “Don’t open the door!” he shouted.

  She turned to him as the door creaked open slightly. Obi flung himself against the door slamming it shut.

  “What’s the matter?” She gave him a quizzical look.

  Flipping the lock, he glanced at her and then hunched over against the door catching his breath.

  “Obi, you shouldn’t be out of bed.”

  “I’m fine.” Standing back up straight, he brushed his hair away from his face and lowered his eyes to her. “Why were you going outside?”

  “I heard a knock. But there was no one there when I looked out the window. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” He shook his head and pushed her aside. He opened the door a crack and glanced around. There was no one there, but at the foot of the door was his bag. Letting out a sigh, he opened the door fully and stepped out. Grabbing the bag, Obi surveyed the area again and stepped back into the house shutting and locking the door behind him.

  There must have still been some poison in his system. He had been able to smell another presence but he could not distinguish it. Realizing it had just been Guri, he was relieved. He figured it also must have been Guri who had brought him to Hitomi.

  “What’s the bag?” Hitomi asked moving up beside him.

  “Um, it’s mine.”

  “Who knows you’re here?”

  “A friend.”

  “Rediisu?”

  Obi’s head snapped down to her. “What did you say?” He thought possibly he had heard her wrong. There was no way she could know of him.

  “Rediisu
. I met him the other day.”

  “When? What did he say?” Obi’s eyes narrowed. He couldn’t understand what Rediisu would be doing coming to see her. He typically kept to himself and under the noses of the council broke every rule imaginable, except for the two that Obi managed to break. Somehow Rediisu always got away with everything, including seducing humans. He raised an eyebrow. “He didn’t try anything with you did he?”

  “Try anything? I’m not sure what…”

  “Nevermind. But what did he want?”

  “He showed up the morning you were supposed to meet me at the bench. All he said was that you weren’t coming,” she shrugged.

  “Just promise me if you see him again that you’ll stay away from him.”

  “Why?”

  “Promise me,” Obi replied sternly. He was concerned as to what Rediisu’s motivation was for coming to Hitomi. Was Rediisu spying for the Savetto? Or was he who Guri sent to watch her while Obi couldn’t? But he didn’t understand why Rediisu and Guri would be working together. Obi obviously had not been completely informed as to what was going on.

  He wanted to go find Guri for some answers, but he could not risk leaving Hitomi unprotected.

  “Fine. I promise.” Hitomi huffed.

  Obi easily sensed her irritation as he dropped his bag to the floor and stepped in front of her. He cautiously reached out and lightly grabbed her wrists. “Hitomi, I just want to keep you safe.”

  “Safe? Safe from what?” Her eyes were wide and filled with so much innocence.

  He had the overwhelming urge to pull her close to him just so he could feel her against his chest. Taking a deep breath, he settled for her soft skin on his fingertips. “From anyone that might hurt you.”

  “Who would want to hurt me?” she laughed nervously.

  “I don’t know.”

  “You know, it’s so frustrating how you won’t tell me anything.”

  “What can I tell you to make you not frustrated?”

  Hitomi crossed her arms and thought about the question. “Can I get back to you with a question when I come up with a good one?”

  Obi mashed his lips together to keep from smiling and gave her a nod.

  “Okay. You should get back in bed.”

  He picked up his bag from the floor. “Mind if I take a shower first?” He caught her staring at him, but she quickly looked away.

  “It’s across from my room.”

  He watched her for a few seconds and then headed upstairs to the bathroom. After he had taken a hot shower, he inspected his back in the mirror. The welts were already closing and healing. He knew that poison was still in his system and should have still slowed the process.

  Pulling on some clean jeans and a black t-shirt, he ran his hand through his hair to untangle it when he noticed the difference in his eyes. He stared at the mirror as there was a knock on the door.

  “Obi? Obi, get out here,” Hitomi said frantically.

  Obsidian flung the door open and quickly grabbed her arms. “Are you alright?”

  “I won’t be if my mom finds you. You have to hide.”

  Hide? Obi raised an eyebrow as she yanked him across the hall. She pushed him into her closet and shut the door. He figured now probably wasn’t the best time to inform her that he could make himself invisible. That would raise way too many more questions.

  He pulled the string for the light as the door opened back up. Hitomi tossed his bag in and it smacked him in the knees.

  “Sorry. Just be quiet. She won’t be here long.”

  Obi didn’t have a chance to reply as the door shut again. Sighing, he sat down on the ground and rifled through his bag. He could hear muffled voices but could not make out exactly what was being said.

  Sitting in her closet, he was completely surrounded by her scent alone with his thoughts. This was definitely not a situation he thought he would ever find himself in. Always the efficient one, Obi was now branded an outcast. His life would never be the same. He scoffed at himself. Life. That was not something he was fortunate to have.

  He was beginning to wonder what the hell he was doing. He was infatuated with a girl. A human girl. It was something he had seen others get destroyed for. Something he had mocked others for. It was something he wasn’t sure he could stop.

  Get up and walk out of here. Finish your list and everything can go back to the way it was. He shook his head at his thoughts. He could go back to sitting in his dark cavern and slowly wasting away. The notion made his chest clench as the door opened.

  There she stood smiling. She was his own personal brightness and he wouldn’t trade that sensation for anything. Obi wanted to feel it forever.

  “Sorry. She’s gone.”

  Obi got up and went out into the room. “When will she be back?”

  “Not until morning.”

  He gave a nod and walked over to the bed.

  “I’m going to go take a shower and then I’ll make us some dinner. Do you want to watch a movie after?” Hitomi clasped her hands behind her back and rocked back on her heels.

  “Sure,” he shrugged and sat down.

  She fidgeted for a few more moments and then went around the room picking out various articles of clothing. Within a few minutes she disappeared across the hall. Obi relaxed on the bed and stared up at the ceiling.

  They sat on the couch munching on pizza after her shower. Hitomi couldn’t decide on what to cook so she settled for ordering out. After eating, Hitomi made some popcorn and she shoved a DVD into the player. He watched as she curled herself up on the other side of the couch. Flipping the light beside her off, she set the bowl of popcorn between them.

  “What are we watching?” he asked.

  She smirked. “Have you seen Braveheart?”

  “No.” The only movies Obi had ever seen were a few inappropriate ones at Rediisu’s house. She started the movie and he watched her dig into the popcorn. While she stared ahead at the TV, he spent most of the movie eyeing her. He liked watching her reactions to certain parts in the film. By the end, Hitomi had drifted off to sleep. Resting his head on the back of the couch, he gazed at her for awhile and then moved the bowl to the table. Obi got up and moved over to her, picking her up and carrying her upstairs.

  He laid her down in bed and pulled the covers up over her. She let out a little groan and smiled in her sleep. Obi moved around the house making sure everything was secure and all the lights shut off. He walked into her room like he had so many nights before, but now she would not be surprised to wake and see him there.

  Standing at the foot of the bed, he debated what he wanted to do and what he should do. Finally deciding, he crawled into the bed behind her. He pulled the covers up and slid his arm under her pillow. The weight of her head rested on his arm as she shifted in the bed facing him. Obi reached up and moved a few strands of her hair from her face. He had never felt as tranquil as he did at that moment. Relaxing his head onto the pillow, he closed his eyes.

  In the morning light crept through the curtains and hit Obi’s face. He opened his eyes and was immediately greeted with Hitomi’s face. During the night they had moved closer to each other. Her foot was pressed against his shin and their knees slightly touching. His fingertips were barely touching her abdomen and their faces were only inches apart.

  Obi pulled his hand back and carefully maneuvered himself out of the bed so not to wake her. Someone was interrupting his constant waves of Hitomi’s scent. He left the room and went downstairs out to the front porch.

  “I figured you’d be awake soon.” Guri sat in one of the porch chairs and glanced up at him.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m sorry. Did I interrupt you playing house?” he smirked.

  “What do you want Guri?”

  “I came to warn you.”

  “Of?”

  “They’re sending Domitori to make sure you complete your list. It has to be done by midnight tomorrow. Unless you want Domitori coming straight to her
house, you better get away from here.”

  Obi rubbed his face. “I don’t want to leave her.”

  “I know.”

  “Guri, what is going on? Why is Hitomi so important? All of this isn’t just because of one name left on a list.”

  “No. You’re right. But I can’t get into everything now. I just wanted to let you know that Domitori will be here by tonight.”