Puppet

CHAPTER 16:


What began as a day passed into many. Days then passed into weeks; exactly three. Yes, a full three weeks have passed since Luke had joined the OOP team. Three weeks have passed since Luke had told Kiyoshi he wanted to know everything about him. Kiyoshi never suspected that it’d take so long to tell Luke everything about him, but Luke kept the questions coming.

Mostly, Luke asked Kiyoshi of his childhood past. Luke had asked more about Kiyoshi’s mother; he had learned that her name was Alice and she had come from America, like Luke had. Kiyoshi also told Luke of his times in the orphanage. He told of all the children there and just how mean and cruel they had been towards Kiyoshi whenever he’d get a visit from the kind Officer Wakehiko. Kiyoshi told jokes here and there about the terrible food served in the orphanage and how the head mistress was such a bitch. Kiyoshi made a few laughs, but Luke never once laughed. Luke just sat there, like he always did, silently listening to every word Kiyoshi would say.

Sometimes as Kiyoshi sat talking to Luke, he’d feel scared; frightened by Luke’s calm appearance. Kiyoshi understood, though he disagreed about being Luke’s puppet, but as Kiyoshi sat there telling Luke of his entire life, Kiyoshi felt as if Luke was a puppet; a dark, lonely puppet with no expressions to show. Luke was completely motionless. Kiyoshi hadn’t the slightest idea why, but as he watched Luke sit there, on his couch, not moving one single joint, Kiyoshi felt almost saddened. To Kiyoshi, this was very odd, for these past few weeks as he talked more with Luke, the roses in his bedroom kept looking healthier with each passing day.

It was true. Kiyoshi knew that it was Luke who had given him the freshly new roses. Kiyoshi just didn’t know why Luke had done the deed. It was a wonderful deed, a very courteous deed, which surprised Kiyoshi. He was sure that Luke had no heart; that he was empty inside. It seemed as if Luke was, but as Kiyoshi told his stories to Luke, every night before he went to bed, he’d hum his mother’s song while starring happily up at the red roses. It was as if Luke had cast some magical spell on the roses, like off of that magical fairy tale titled “Beauty and the Beast.” It was as if the roses, themselves, were immortal, just like Luke. Still, Kiyoshi didn’t know how they were being kept alive. He barely watered them; they got barely any sunshine. It was enchanting.

But this is what concerns Kiyoshi. How could a man such as Luke, who at the beginning literally tortured Kiyoshi; caused Kiyoshi hell and pain, do something as nice as this? Kiyoshi wanted answers. He remembered a promise Luke had made him; well more like a favor promise. If Kiyoshi shared his life with Luke, then Luke was to share his own secrets with Kiyoshi. Kiyoshi wanted to know everything about Luke now. Where was he born? Who were his parents? When did he come to Tokyo? How did he become leader of that group of immortals?

That’s another thing. For the past weeks Kiyoshi has gotten better acquainted with Luke’s immortal group. He was now great friends with Ivalyn and he knew he could tell her anything his heart desired. Kiyoshi trusted Ivalyn; even more then he trusted Luke. Well, it was because out of them all, Ivalyn was the only one who had cared for him. Kiyoshi enjoys being with her, but he can see the jealousy and hating eyes Teo gives to him, at times. Sometimes it’s best just to stay clear of the immortals, though for some reason Kiyoshi knows that Luke would, at all costs, protect him from getting harmed, (still hard to believe.) But yes, Kiyoshi wanted to know everything about Luke. He decided it best to begin asking his own questions.

“Luke,” Kiyoshi began to ask one night; they were in his apartment, but this time Kiyoshi got off of the chair he sat in and actually moved over to sit beside Luke. This surprised Luke, but the immortal ignored the sudden change, “I was wondering if we can do a change tonight.”

“What do you mean?” Luke asks, his full attention on Kiyoshi.

“Well,” Kiyoshi began, sounding determined, “Instead of talking more about me, I was wondering if you start to do the favor you promised to me.” Luke stayed silent, so Kiyoshi finished, “I want to hear about you, Luke.” Luke let out a grunt of disappointment. He did not want to tell Kiyoshi his story, but he knew that he had promised this favor to his puppet. Turning his body to Kiyoshi, Luke lifted his right leg over his left, (like he always did,) and set his hands on his right knee. He stared at his puppet, ready to ask questions though his face still showed nothingness.

“Alright,” Luke gave in, making Kiyoshi relieved, “Ask me what you wish.”

“Thank you,” Kiyoshi turned to Luke, too, but made sure to keep his body from touching Luke’s. He still felt uncomfortable around the man, “First of all,” Kiyoshi began, “I really would love to hear of your own family. Even though you’re immortal, I’m sure you have a mom and dad, right? Tell me about them, please.” Luke stayed still, making Kiyoshi unsure if he was even going to answer, but after a few seconds of the silent treatment Luke did answer: his face still and mysterious.

“I was born in America,” Luke then answered, “Chicago, Illinois was the place I was born and grew up in. My mother, her name is Margaret. She was my father’s puppet. My father’s name was…Charles, I think, or Charlie, I can’t remember,” Kiyoshi was happy for Luke’s honesty as Luke continued, “Yes, my parents were both immortals and are both still living, but I have no idea where they are now. I’m guessing they’re still both in America. Well, my mother is, I’m sure. My father disappeared when I was about age three. My mother raised me, but we never spoke much. She loved to go out to parties and bars and would leave me alone…” Luke’s voice died down. Kiyoshi frowned to hear this. Having a mother who didn’t care for her son…that was awful, “I’d be left in our house. It was beat-up, but somehow, even with what little she could afford, my mother always seemed to be able to buy food and keep my stomach full.” Luke turned his head away from Kiyoshi. He brought his fingers to his lips and stared down at the floor. Kiyoshi didn’t question Luke’s sudden actions; he just sat there and kept his ears open. “I was about eighteen when I decided to go out and live on my own. My mother and I, we never really got along so I supposed that she didn’t really care about my leave. I guess I’ll never know how she really felt.”

“Why did you come here,” Kiyoshi then interrupted, seeing Luke’s shoulders tighten, “To Tokyo?” Luke’s shoulders relaxed and dropped as Luke let out another sigh. Kiyoshi was hoping Luke would keep going.

“I came to Tokyo,” Luke answered softly, “For a reason even I’m unsure of. I suppose I came over here to get away from it all. Everything I’ve had to deal with back home, in America. I wanted to learn more about my kind and heard of a powerful group that lived here…”

“Ivalyn and the others,” Kiyoshi whispered, making Luke nod.

“Yes,” Luke went on, “However, Ivalyn had just become a part of the group recently. The group began very small; I wasn’t leader when I joined. Our leader, his name is not mentioned, for he turned out to be a poor leader; had poor leadership and communication skills. He was booted out and the group chose me as their next leader. I had met Teo just a while after I joined; he joined after me. Rod was already a part of the group, but he could see that I’d make a better leader then him, so he gave the job to me, though I could see how much he wanted it.”

Luke took a long pause. Kiyoshi assumed Luke was finished answering his questions and Kiyoshi couldn’t think of another to ask. Luke slowly turned his head towards Kiyoshi, though, and Kiyoshi could see a hint of confusion in Luke’s face. “Who knows,” Luke then whispered, “Perhaps there’s another reason for my coming to Tokyo,” Luke’s face never left Kiyoshi. Kiyoshi felt his cheeks grow warm, “I guess my coming here,” Luke finished, “Was fate.” Kiyoshi leaned back in the couch, the blue cushions felt soft on his back. He stared into space as Luke came to a standing position, “That’s all for tonight,” Luke then whispered, facing Kiyoshi, “We’ll talk more together tomorrow, but we’ll go back to discussing you.” With that said, Luke took a bow and left Kiyoshi’s apartment. Kiyoshi stayed leaning back on the couch, still in awe about Luke’s story. Now Kiyoshi partially understood why Luke’s face seemed so sad. His childhood life sounded miserable.

Kiyoshi slowly opened his shirt and gazed down at the tattoo. It no longer hurt whenever Luke was around. Kiyoshi was thankful, for the pain had been intense. But, as Kiyoshi gazed at the tattoo, he then felt something he never has before. Kiyoshi had thought of Luke to be a monster, now Kiyoshi thought of him as…something Kiyoshi couldn’t put his foot on.

“It’s not possible,” Kiyoshi then spoke aloud, leaning farther into the couch. He brought his legs up to cover his face. His eyes began to moisten and fresh tears began to form at the corner of each of his sparkling blue eyes. He suddenly began to feel nauseous and leaned his head down into the crack between two of the couch’s cushions, “It can’t be. It’s not possible,” Kiyoshi gave a sniff, pushing back his long black bangs, keeping his face hidden in the couch’s darkness, “I can’t be,” Kiyoshi cried, “Not with him, not with him…” Kiyoshi’s eyes grew weary, ready for his body to be taken over by sleep. “Not with him…”

*End of Chapter 16*