Puppet

CHAPTER 12:


“My name is Luke,” smirked the man, “Luke Ashford.” Kiyoshi could not believe what he saw. Standing there was the man who had, thus far, caused Kiyoshi hell. However, he looked different then usual. He stood there, wearing a set of dusty brown clothes with a matching cowboy styled hat. Kiyoshi raised his hands over his cheeks, hoping to not cause a blush to form.

“Hey there,” Topper greeted Luke with a firm handshake, “I’m Topper Riddle. I’m from America too,” Topper set his hand on Kiyoshi’s shoulder, giving a wide smile, “And this here is my partner, Kiyoshi Endo.”

“Pleasure,” Luke said while giving a bow, his eyes locking over Kiyoshi, “both of you.” Kiyoshi stayed quiet, but the room had already fallen silent once the introductions were made. Officer Wakehiko then clapped his hands together.

“Well,” Officer Wakehiko spoke, “thanks again Luke for beginning work right away. You shall start tomorrow with these two,” Officer Wakehiko pointed towards Topper and Kiyoshi. Luke gave a smirk, bowed again, and then made his leave. The three men stood there as in awe once Luke made his departure.

“Well,” Topper whispered to one in particular, “He seems cool.” Topper gave off a laugh, though neither Kiyoshi nor Officer Wakehiko found him humorous. “I think he’ll be fun to work with,” Topper gave Kiyoshi a smile, “Right?” Kiyoshi gave a giggle, trying to sound ‘okay’ with the whole topic.

“Yeah,” Kiyoshi answered, though he didn’t mean it, but though he already knew Luke, he didn’t want to bring any of it upon Officer Wakehiko nor anyone else in the building. Kiyoshi had decided to keep the puppet thing a secret from his mortal friends, for if they knew who Luke was…there’d probably be a conflict. And yes, Luke would win. Kiyoshi nodded his head, thinking: “It’s for the best.” “I’m,” Kiyoshi spoke aloud, “going to head on home, I guess.”

“Alright Kiyoshi,” Officer Wakehiko smiled at the boy, “have a good night.”

“You too,” Kiyoshi waved goodbye and headed out. Wrapping his jacket around his shoulders, Kiyoshi grabbed his keys from inside his jacket pocket and ran to the parking lot. He came up to his vehicle, but did not hop on immediately. He looked down, noticing that his P tattoo was glowing. Kiyoshi frowned, then, and slowly whispered: “What are you thinking?”

Luke stood behind Kiyoshi; he still wore the dusty clothing. Luke was not at all surprised when Kiyoshi spoke to him. He wasn’t surprised that Kiyoshi had known he stood behind Kiyoshi, this only made Luke smirk. Kiyoshi turned to face Luke.

“Why,” Kiyoshi whispered, “did you take a job? What the hell are you doing? Are you fucking stocking me, or something?” Kiyoshi grew angry, though he knew his feelings said otherwise, “Why won’t you just leave me alone?” Luke stayed quiet for a few, but soon he answered Kiyoshi’s questions.

“I want to,” Luke whispered, “get to know you better.” Kiyoshi’s ears perked, wondering if they heard Luke correct. “I want to know every little thing you do: from the moment you wake in the morning, to the moment you go to sleep at night.” Kiyoshi stared up at Luke as Luke went on, “I want to know everything about you. What you enjoy, dislike, what you do on your days off.” Kiyoshi was surprised by Luke’s sudden hankering of him.

“That’s,” Kiyoshi halted, trying to find words to say, “That’s…going to take some time.”

“I don’t care,” Luke spoke truthfully, which, for some reason, sent a shiver down Kiyoshi’s spine, “I don’t care how long it takes. I want to know you…everything about you.” Luke’s voice sounded almost urgent. This scared Kiyoshi, but Kiyoshi held his ground. Giving a smirk, Kiyoshi leaned against the back of his motorbike.

“Fine,” Kiyoshi gave in, but wasn’t finished yet, “But then you have to do me a favor.” Luke grinned, his eyes locked over Kiyoshi’s body.

“And what would that be?”

“You,” Kiyoshi began his voice so soft, “You must tell me all there is to know about you, too.” Luke fidgeted his feet, but he knew he wouldn’t get away that easily. Finally giving off a sigh, Luke answered:

“Fair enough.”

--

The door opened and Kiyoshi entered his apartment. Following behind him was Luke. Kiyoshi held his door open, allowing Luke to enter before him. Luke did so; removing his shoes and stepping over the soft carpet. Kiyoshi shut the door behind him and made his way towards the kitchen.

“Would you care for something to drink?” Kiyoshi asked. Luke shook his head, taking a seat on the comfortable looking couch. Homes in Japan were much larger in the future, even within apartments. Most Japanese have turned to the American customs. Kiyoshi was one of them, but he had his reasons. Kiyoshi grabbed himself a glass of water before sitting across from Luke. Setting a coaster over the tiny table, Kiyoshi took a sip of his water before setting it down. He leaned back in his favorite rest chair, keeping his eyes on Luke. “So what do you want to know?” Crossing his right leg over his left, Luke rested his hands on his knee. He then stared at Kiyoshi with his expressionless face.

“Start with your family,” Luke whispered, looking more serious then before. Kiyoshi blinked, in awe by Luke’s sudden awareness and craving. “Where do they live? What do they do?” Kiyoshi grew cloudy. Why did Luke have to begin asking about a hard subject? Leaning forward, Kiyoshi thought it best to answer honestly.

“My parents,” Kiyoshi whispered, staring sadly at the floor, “they were murdered.” Luke’s body tightened. He looked in full alert.

“Murdered,” Luke asked hoarsely.

“Yeah,” Kiyoshi’s words stumbled, but he continued for Luke, “I, I was only five when it happened so I can’t remember much. It was all a blur; happened so fast. But I try not to think of it,” Kiyoshi smiled, “I was brought to live in an orphanage by Sir Wakehiko, my boss. He had worked with my dad, so the two knew each other. When I lived in the orphanage, he would come and visit me, watch over me every day. The other boys in the orphanage grew angry that I got all this attention by him, yet he never adopted me.” Luke could see Kiyoshi was trembling, but Luke wanted to hear more. “Still,” Kiyoshi went on, “I guess I could call Sir Wakehiko my father now. He gave me a job just as soon as I was released from the orphanage. And now, he still watches over me. I know how much he cares for me, so I shouldn’t complain.”

“Kiyoshi,” Luke interrupted, his voice low, “Do you remember your parents at all?” Kiyoshi tried his best to not cry. Looking up at Luke, Kiyoshi nervously rubbed his hands together while rocking back and forth on the chair.

“Not my dad,” Kiyoshi answered, “Not really. No, he always was away at work.” Kiyoshi smiled then, allowing his tears to finally fall, “But my mom,” Kiyoshi’s lips quivered, “I remember her, which is odd, but…yeah she,” Kiyoshi wipes his tears, “She didn’t work. She’d stay at home with me, home-schooling me because she was home-schooled. She treated me differently then my dad. Dad always would say, “Don’t you dare cry son. Boys don’t cry!” But my mom, she’d said, “That’s it, let it all out. It’ll be just fine.” I guess you could call me a mama’s boy,” Kiyoshi giggled, “But I don’t care.” Kiyoshi wiped more tears away. It was difficult mentioning his mother. Luke understood, yet he wanted to hear more, so he stayed silent as Kiyoshi went on about his mother. “Umm, she used to sing me songs and recite poems her mother had sung and told to her. Most of them were girlish, but I enjoyed them. One in particular I really liked, about a rose…” Kiyoshi looked to the floor again, “My mother loved roses. They were her favorite. Heh, sometimes I thought that she even loved roses more then she loved me, or dad.” Kiyoshi paused. He was rubbing his hands faster together.

“Is that why,” Luke then asked, “Why you have a vase of roses in your bedroom?”

“Yeah,” Kiyoshi answered, wiping his eyes a second time, “They remind me of her.” The two were still then; nothing was heard but Kiyoshi’s sniffling from his tears. Luke gently rubbed his chin before lowering his hand.

“Do,” Luke began to ask, “You remember the rose song your mother sang to you?” Kiyoshi looked up at Luke, and then slowly nodded his head.

“Yeah,” Kiyoshi whispered, “Some of it, I do.” Luke nodded his head.

“I’d like to hear it,” Luke said eagerly. Kiyoshi glanced up at Luke’s face. Though Luke’s face was motionless, Kiyoshi could tell that Luke was serious. Kiyoshi lowered his eyes and at first Luke assumed Kiyoshi wasn’t going to go through with it, but then, after a few seconds of waiting, Kiyoshi began to sing.

“Don’t you worry, little one.

Keep this rose by your side.

Don’t you fear, little one.

It’ll protect you; its love is your light.

Don’t let the hatred get its way,

Don’t let the darkness cover you in.

Just keep this rose by your side.

You’ll be fine, little one.”

Kiyoshi wiped more tears; his eyes finally dried out. He looked up at Luke and gave off a giggling smile, “That’s it;” Kiyoshi spoke wearily, “That’s all I can remember.” Luke nodded his head, letting Kiyoshi take a break from all of the sudden emotion.

“It’s beautiful,” Luke whispered, shifting his legs, “Very beautiful.” Kiyoshi nodded in agreement.

“I remember my mom telling me,” Kiyoshi continued, “To never forget the song. It was her song to me; made up for me. She told me that it will be a song I can always sing whenever I’m feeling alone, scared, or sad.” Kiyoshi smiled, “I normally would hum the song to myself every night before I fell asleep,” Kiyoshi looked towards Luke, his dried eyes blinked, “However, since that night you came into my life, I haven’t really done so lately.” Kiyoshi’s eyes suddenly flashed big. Leaving Luke in bewilderment, and alone in the living room, Kiyoshi rushed into his room and let out a large, “Oh no!” Luke rushed to Kiyoshi’s side immediately and found Kiyoshi staring at a vase full of shriveled roses, “they’re, they’re dead,” Kiyoshi cried, “And I can’t afford more.” Luke glanced over at the dead roses, and then turned to his weeping puppet.

“You’re such a cry-baby,” Luke hissed, making Kiyoshi turn to glare at him.

“What,” Kiyoshi asked in surprise, “Why would you say that?”

“Get up,” Luke spoke, his voice was stern, “Get up, on your feet! Your mother would not wish to see you like this. You know so…” Kiyoshi wanted to crawl into the corner when he saw the sudden change on Luke’s face. But Luke was right and Kiyoshi knew so. Kiyoshi rose to his feet, turning slowly to look up into Luke’s eyes. “There,” Luke nodded, “That’s better.” Kiyoshi was still slightly shivering, but wrapped his arms around his chest, pretending as if he were chilled. Luke noticed this and gave off a tiny giggle.

“Are you cold,” asked Luke. Kiyoshi nodded his head.

“Just a little,” Kiyoshi answered; wrongly, but he answered. Luke accepted Kiyoshi’s lies with a nod.

“Then,” Luke began to whisper, “Let me help warm you up.” Kiyoshi gave off a loud heave of surprise when he was suddenly pulled into Luke’s strong, warm arms. A little blush crept over Kiyoshi’s cheeks. He felt like he was melting away into Luke’s body; his arms were moving upwards, ready to wrap themselves around Luke’s body, but then a flashback entered Kiyoshi’s mind. It was him; he was screaming. He was nude, being held against his will by…by Luke. The flashback came so fast; Kiyoshi pushed himself off of Luke with a scream, breaking the hug, “No!” Kiyoshi screamed, backing into his bed. He held his arms in front of him, willing to protect himself, this time, if Luke dared try hurting him again. But Luke never did. As Kiyoshi looked up at Luke, Kiyoshi could see what he assumed was disappointment in Luke’s eyes. Luke, however, stayed calm.

“Kiyoshi,” Luke whispered, “I promised myself that I’d never hurt you.” Kiyoshi gave Luke a quizzical look, unsure of if he heard Luke correctly. Luke moved towards Kiyoshi, then, but in a more relaxed, gentler way. Kiyoshi sat on his bed, expecting the worse, but Luke did not injure him. Luke slowly wrapped his arms around Kiyoshi, giving Kiyoshi a very affectionate hug. Then, as Luke moved his lips over Kiyoshi’s ears, he said two words that Kiyoshi just could not believe.

“I’m sorry,” is what Luke whispered. Luke removed his arms from Kiyoshi, then, and made his way for the door, “You should rest. I’ll be taking my leave now.” With that, Luke headed through Kiyoshi’s bedroom door and vanished.

With quavering knees Kiyoshi softly fell back onto his bed. His breathing was heavy; his body was sweating. Turning to his side, Kiyoshi grabbed his pillow and held it to his chest. Then, as he lay there, a small smile formed over his lips.

“Sorry,” Kiyoshi cried as his eyes grew tired, “He said he’s sorry…” Since he can remember, then, Kiyoshi slowly began to sing his mother’s song. He sang it as happily as he possibly could until slept met his eyes. As Kiyoshi drifted off to sleep, he was sure that from the breezy wind outside, he could still hear Luke’s soft words:

“Kiyoshi…I’m sorry.”

*End of Chapter 12*