Sympathy
*Yuki*
Today, I had
power. I wasn’t
crying or scared today. No sir! I wasn’t the whimp I was yesterday!
Today, I
was strong and confident! No more crying for me! No sir! Today, I was a
man!
I walked to school
with
pride. Yep! That was going to be a good day! I kept walking until…
CRASH! I
walked straight into someone. I backed away in fear. “Oh my Kami!
Gominasai!
Gominasai!” I wailed aloud. I heard them snicker. In an instant, I
recognized.
*Shizuma*
“Shizuma?” I heard
Yuki ask.
“What are you doing here?” I smirked. “Let’s go.” I answered. “Hm?” I
heard him
say. “What do you mean?” “Come on.” I said. “We have school, remember?”
“Oh.”
Yuki said.
*Yuki*
Shizuma and I
walked to
school. It was strange at first. Why did he want to walk with me now? I
didn’t
get it. Then my demon held my hand. I blushed. Then I began to ease
down. This
is what I wanted after all. Now I have it.
We made it to school. All
seemed well. But I saw a problem. Shizuma and I made it on school
grounds and
people were staring at us. I grew nervous. “Shizu.” I whispered. “Hai?”
he
replied. “They’re staring at us.” I said.
*Shizuma*
I understood what
he meant
and felt. I too didn’t enjoy public display of affection in any form.
Even in
the smallest way of it. But I didn’t want to show it. So I decided to
play it
off. “ Let ‘em stare.” I said bravely. “But…” Yuki began to say. “You
want to
let go?” I asked. I received silence. I had him trapped. “Well then.” I
said.
Then we kept walking.
*Yuki*
I didn’t know what
Shizuma
was plotting or what would happen next. I just kept watching.
By lunchtime, I
had my
answer. I sat by myself as usual. But people were staring at me again.
I tried
to ignore it. Then trouble came.
Zen and his friend
came over
to my table. I tried not to look up. “Yo sap!” I heard Zen say. I said
nothing
and didn’t look up. “Hey!” he yelled. I still ignored him. He slammed
his hand
down hard on the table. I looked startled. Zen grinned at me. I said
nothing.
He grabbed my head. “Didn’t your momma teach you to greet someone?” he
asked
sarcastically. I looked away. My parents were dead. The thought of them
made me
sad.
“Well, I’m gonna
to teach you
some manners!” Zen yelled. He raised his fist up. I grew nervous. “Not
again!” I thought. I tightly shut
my eyes. Then… Nothing came! I opened my
eyes and looked up. Shizuma stood over me with Zen’s fist in hand.
*Shizuma*
I eyed baka-san.
“Uhh…” he
said. “Teach him what?” I asked. “Nothing…” baka said. “I thought so.”
I said.
Then I go of his fist and he ran off.
*Yuki*
As we walked home,
I began
thinking. I had nothing to worry about now. I had a lover and a
guardian all
rolled into one. There was no need to be ashamed of that. My luck had
changed
now.
