by K L Ogden
“But I don’t want a boyfriend, just to have one.”
“You’re such a romantic.”
Hitomi gave a shrug and glanced around at the people wanting to get off the topic of boys.
“You haven’t said anything about the person following you lately,” Kerry commented sensing Hitomi’s irritation with the boyfriend conversation.
“I haven’t sensed it for awhile.” The last time she had the feeling was right before she met Rediisu.
“That’s good.”
“Punch for the ladies.” Shane set a glass down for Kerry and sat down next to her. Bradley gave Hitomi a glass and took a seat. They sat for awhile and talked and then Shane and Kerry headed to the dance floor.
“Do you want to dance?” Bradley asked.
“Um, maybe a slow one. I’m not a very good dancer.”
“Same here. But I would have embarrassed myself if it would have made you laugh.”
Hitomi smiled.
“You seem like you have something else on your mind tonight. You were quiet through dinner and you haven’t said much since we got here.”
“I’m sorry. I do have something else on my mind, but I’ll be fine.”
Bradley stood up and held out his arm. “Let’s go embarrass ourselves.”
She took his arm and they went out onto the dance floor.
****
Thunder began rumbling and Obsidian and Domitori both looked up to the sky as it lit up with lightning.
“Is it time to head in yet? It’s been a couple hours,” Domitori whined.
Obi stood up and dusted himself off.
“About time,” Dom mumbled following Obi through the door to the stairwell. Once they hit the stairs, Obi turned around and grabbed Domitori by the neck slamming him against the wall.
“Let’s get this straight. You are not to touch her,” Obi growled.
A sly smile crept across Domitori’s face. “As long as you take care of it, I won’t have to.”
Obi held himself back from squeezing his neck. He dropped his head and released the grip around Dom’s throat. “Stay here.”
“But…”
Obi took a few steps and turned back around to him. “I said stay here.” He hurried down the steps and ended up in a long hallway. He knew that it would only be a short time before Domitori would wander down to see what was taking so long. He had to make sure Hitomi would be alright. Walking down the hallway he became nervous about seeing her.
****
Hitomi and Bradley walked off the dance floor to the table. She sat down and looked around for Kerry and Shane.
“Do you know where Kerry and Shane are?” she asked.
“I’m not sure. There are a couple people I want to go talk to.”
“Okay. I’m just going to stay here.”
“I’ll bring you back a fresh drink.” He put his hand on her shoulder and slowly trailed it down her skin. She gave him a nod just wanting him to leave. He walked away and she picked up her empty glass. She rolled it in between her hands and then glanced up searching for Kerry.
Hitomi let out a gasp as her eyes stopped at the gymnasium entrance. Dressed in a black suit and red button down shirt and looking absolutely perfect, Obi stood there staring at her. She quickly turned away from him as her heart pounded. She couldn’t believe he was there. It had to have been her imagination or wishful thinking. So she turned back around to the entrance and peered at him again. But he wasn’t standing there, he was coming towards her.
Her mind raced. She didn’t know what to do. She was still upset with him, but just seeing Obi made her think about how much she had missed him. But she couldn’t talk to him now without running the risk of falling down into tears again.
Quickly she got up and started hurrying through the people.
“Hitomi!”
She didn’t dare turn around.
“Hitomi, please stop!”
She pushed her way through the dancing couples.
“I didn’t mean any of it!”
Hitomi stopped, but she couldn’t bring herself to turn around. She had no idea what to say to him, but she hoped that she had heard him correctly.
“Hitomi,” he walked up behind her and grabbed her elbow. He spun her around to face him and grabbed both of her arms. “I need to talk to you.”
She lifted her head and their eyes met. Her lips trembled. “I think you said enough yesterday.” She pulled her arms out of his grip. “You should go before my date comes to find me.”
“Not until I talk to you. Just a few minutes and then if you want me to leave, I will.” He had a look of desperation on his face.
“Fine.” She walked off the dance floor over to a side wall and turned back around to him as she leaned back against the wall. She crossed her arms in front of her. “Are you just trying to ruin my night?”
“No,” Obi shook his head.
“Then what are you doing here?”
“I needed to tell you that I’m sorry about what I said. I didn’t mean any of it.”
“Why did you say those things?”
“I wasn’t trying to hurt you.” Obi moved closer to her and she lowered her head.
“But you did,” she mumbled.
“I know. I’m sorry. I don’t know how I am going to live with the fact that I’ve hurt you when all I’ve wanted to do is protect you.”
She had no response. He was basically standing there telling her that he cared about her and her mind had gone blank.
Obi reached out his hand to her. “Will you dance with me?” She stared at his hand. “Please?”
She wanted to tell him ‘no’ and yell at him. But she couldn’t. The way that he stood so vulnerable in front of her with is hand reached out to her, made her want to jump into his arms and stay there forever.
Hitomi hesitantly put her hand in his. He grasped her hand and led her out onto the dance floor. Turning and facing her, he rested his other hand on her waist. She kept her head down as she moved her free hand up to his shoulder and they slowly started swaying to the slow song.
“I really am sorry. For everything,” Obi stated.
Hitomi gave a little shrug and stared at his chest. He let go of her hand and placed a finger underneath her chin tilting her head up to look at him.
“I’m sorry,” he said again staring into her eyes.
She felt her chest thumping harder ready to burst out and it was hard for her to catch her breath. She accepted that he was apologetic, but she still needed the reasoning behind his actions. Hitomi needed to know why he had said those things to her and tried to make her hate him.
“Why?” she asked quietly.
“Why am I sorry?”
“No. Why were you trying to make me hate you?”
Obi took a deep breath and glanced around, and then focused back on her. “To try to protect you.”
“Protect me? From what?”
His jaw clenched. “Partially from me,” he said. “I’m not who you think I am. I’m a bad…person.”
“I don’t believe that,” Hitomi replied quickly.
“And that’s why I said those things. If I hadn’t, you wouldn’t have been angry at me. I needed you to let me leave.”
“But why did you have to leave?”
“Hitomi,” his voice waivered as he leaned closer to her, “there are a lot of things I haven’t told you.”
“You haven’t told me anything,” she shot back.
“I know. I’ve been afraid to tell you, because it’s not good. But now is not the time. I promise I will tell you everything that I can. I wish I could keep it from you, but I want you to know me.”
She watched him as he glanced around again. There was no way this boy could be as bad as he was setting up. He had saved her. For the most part, he had been nothing but concerned for her. Someone evil could never do those things.
“Whatever it is, I’ll understand.”
“Don’t say that,” he shook his head. “We don’t
have much time.”
“What do you mean?” her eyes widened as her chest tightened again. “You’re not leaving again, are you?”
“Sort of.”
“Either you are or you’re not. Is this some sort of ‘goodbye’? Because I’m…”
“Hitomi.” Obi suddenly took her face in his hands surprising her. “There is some purpose to why I met you. I’m not here to say goodbye. I’m here because you’ve become important to me.”
His hands were hot on her face and she felt prickles of electricity shooting through her body. “Important to you?”
He drew his face closer and whispered, “Why are you important to me?”
Hitomi stared at his lips as they were slowly shortening the distance to hers. She suddenly forgot how to breathe. She watched his eyes lazily close as his mouth was nearly an inch away. She felt his breath hot against her lips as the excitement built in her stomach. Her mouth tingled with anticipation.
“What the hell is going on here?” Bradley shouted and Obi was quickly yanked away from her. Bradley stood behind Obi with a firm grip on his shoulder. Obi brushed Bradley’s hand away and turned and faced him. “Who is this guy?” Bradley inquired to Hitomi.
Hitomi opened her mouth, but before she could say anything Obi was already speaking.
“Who are you?” Obi replied.
“That’s my date you’re dancing with buddy.” Hitomi’s watched as Bradley’s face contorted angrily.
“Bradley…” Hitomi started as she took a step forward. Obi caught her with his arm and moved her back behind him.
“I’ve wanted to handle this,” Obi mumbled and turned back to Bradley. “You might just want to walk away…Bradley.”
Bradley gave a slight huff of laughter. “I was just thinking the same thing about you.” Hitomi watched as Bradley’s hand closed into a fist and he took a swing at Obi’s face. But Obi was too quick and easily avoided it. Bradley’s expression changed to surprise. Then with the blink of an eye, Bradley landed back on the dance floor. Hitomi had barely seen Obi even move. Her lips parted in awe. Everyone on the dance floor was now staring at them.
“Hitomi?” Obi turned back around to her and put his hands on either side of her neck. “We have to go.”
Hitomi shook her head out of her state of shock and looked at him. “Go? Go where?”
“Do you trust me?” he leaned down as his thumbs stroked her cheeks. She gave a slight nod. “Then come with me now.”
“But…”
“Please,” he interrupted pleadingly. Hitomi stared up at him and gave another nod. He let out a deep breath and grabbed her arm. “C’mon.” He tugged on her as they started moving through the people.
“Get back here!” Bradley yelled after them. But all Hitomi could focus on was Obi. He was really here. He wanted her with him.
As they cleared the people, their pace turned to a run for the doors. Obi slammed into one of the doors and pulled her out into the hallway. He moved his hand down to hers and started pulling her along with him.
“What is going on Obi? Why are we running?” Hitomi asked as he tightened the grip on her hand.
“Just stay with me. I will explain everything”, he glanced back at her. “Can you run faster?”
She gave a nod and stopped. She slipped off her shoes and they started down the hall at a faster pace. Her heart raced at the sudden panic in Obi’s eyes as she tried to keep up with him. He looked stricken with worry and fear.
“Please, keep running…” Obi said almost pleadingly.
“I’m trying”, she panted. They were almost to the hall entrance that led out to the courtyard. “Where are we…?” Hitomi started to ask when suddenly there was a voice behind them.
“Obsidian!”
Obi suddenly stopped, practically jerking her arm off. She looked up at him as he closed his eyes and lowered his head. His jaw clenched as he steadied his breathing. Slowly he started to turn around, bringing his head up and opening his eyes. Hitomi gasped at the glowing reddish orange orbs. He pulled her behind him and took a defensive position. Hitomi looked down the hallway from behind him and saw nothing.
“Domitori”, he sighed in irritation. “You really should have stayed out of all this.”
“Council’s orders- can’t go against them”, the voice snickered. “You really should have done your job.”
“I’m doing what needs to be done,” Obi replied.
“For who? For you? For that girl? I knew you wouldn’t be able to go through with it”, the voice chuckled. “You’re pitiable. All you had to do was take her soul…”
“Shut up!” Obi yelled.
Hitomi’s eyes widened and she stared up at Obi. “Take…my…soul?” she stuttered.
Obi turned to her, eyes turning from anger to fear. “I can explain…”
“Explain? You were here to kill me?” her chest clenched and she wasn’t sure she would be able to take another breath. She pulled her hand from his grip and took a step away. Her legs started to shake.
The voice let out a burst of laughter. “She has no idea what you are?”
“Shut up Domitori,” Obi growled and turned back to her. “Hitomi, I could never have done that to you”, Obi practically whispered.
“What are you?” her brow furrowed in confusion and she took another step back.
“I’m…” he started, but quickly turned around. Suddenly Obi was slamming into the lockers lining the hallway and sinking to the ground.
“Obi!” Hitomi screamed when abruptly she felt cold hands around her neck pressing her against the lockers on the opposite side.
“What is so special about you?” the voice said so close to her she could feel the breath. “You look pretty ordinary.”
“Leave me alone,” she managed to say.
“Wish I could, but you seem to be a pretty big deal in the afterworld.”
“Afterworld?” she coughed out.
Hitomi noticed flecks of red materializing. His eyes were beginning to appear as was the rest of his body. Within a minute she could see his true form. His eyes were just like how Obi’s were previously and the corner of his mouth was turned upward in a sly smirk. He removed one hand from her neck and stroked the side of her face. She turned away and closed her eyes.
“Darling Hitomi. Sweet and innocent. Is that why Obi likes you so? You’re so different from the trash we see every day; the humans that waste their lives selling their bodies, infesting themselves with drugs, spreading diseases.” He tilted his head a little as she looked back at him. “But not you.”
“Get your hands off of her”, Obi grumbled as he lifted himself from the floor.
“I will enjoy taking such a pure heart”, he slowly started moving his hand down from her neck towards her chest. Hitomi held her breath.
“NO!” Obi tackled him from the side taking him down to the ground. Hitomi slid down to the ground and stared at them. “Hitomi, get out of here! Now! Run and don’t stop!” Obi shouted.
“But…you…” was all she managed to get through her lips.
“I’ll find you. Now- GO!” he screamed.
She pulled herself up to her feet as the body struggled underneath Obi. She put her hand over her mouth and turned for the door running as fast as she could.
****
“You fool,” Domitori spat. “Risking everything for that girl. She will eventually die, and so will you.”
“Get up,” Obi got up keeping a hold of Domitori’s shirt collar. Domitori slowly got up from the ground and Obi slammed him back into the lockers. “I told you not to touch her”, he sneered. Domitori smiled widely as his eyes brightened, then swiftly pushed Obi back. Domitori stepped away from the lockers and happily glared at Obi.
“I’m going to enjoy this,” Domitori commented.
“Not any more than I am,” Obi raised an eyebrow. Domitori gave Obi a wink and swiftly disappeared in front of him. Before Obi could use his senses, Dom reappeared behind him holding a short blade to hi
s neck. Obi’s body stiffened.
“You don’t carry a weapon, do you Obsidian?”
“I’ve never seen the purpose. My hands are good enough to rip your head off.”
Domitori tightened his grip. “Honestly, I’ve never liked you. So you can imagine how thrilled I was when the Savetto sent me after you. You’re no longer their golden boy. You made the rest of us look bad. They always went to you when they needed something important done.”