Puppet

CHAPTER 20:


That next day at work, Akina sat still with a stinging pain of guilt. Kiyoshi had called in sick and Akina was sure she knew why.

“Why,” Akina whispered, just low enough for no one to hear, “Why’d I have to be so stupid.”

“Akina,” Akina looked up into the eyes of Officer Wakehiko. He held a big pile of papers in his hand, “Is everything all right? You’re usually full of such jolliness.”

“Sorry sir,” Akina tried her best to not look as if she’s been crying, “I um, went on a date with Kiyoshi last night.”

“Finally got the nerve, huh?” Officer Wakehiko snickered, but the impression he got from Akina’s face told him to shut his trap.

“Well I thought it’d turn out okay,” Akina gave out a sigh, “Everything was going perfectly fine until I…” Akina paused, but went on, “Before I kissed him.”

“Was the kiss that bad?” Officer Wakehiko asked, once again assuming he should’ve said nothing when a few tears fell from Akina’s eyes.

“He broke the kiss and pulled away,” Akina grabbed the tissue Officer Wakehiko handed to her while still managing to balance the papers he held in his arms, “He rushed out of the house! He said it wasn’t me, but I think he was lying. And just now, he called in sick.”

“Again,” Officer Wakehiko gave out his own sigh, but his sounded more disappointed, “What are we to do with him?” Akina shrugged her shoulders as her phone began to ring again. She went to answer it as Officer Wakehiko stayed standing by her side. Better to support his fellow officers then to deal with work. It was a pleasurable excuse.

“Hello,” Akina then asked, holding in a sniffle, “OOP building, what’s your emergency? Oh, hello Luke…” As Akina chatted with Luke, Topper came up behind Officer Wakehiko, “What,” Akina looked up at Topper and Officer Wakehiko with surprise, “You’re not feeling well?” Topper took a sip of his coffee as Officer Wakehiko stared off in wonderment, “Alright then Luke. Well I hope you begin feeling better.” Akina hung up the phone.

“Well,” Officer Wakehiko spoke while balancing some falling papers, “Perhaps there’s a bug going around?”

“Maybe,” Akina sighed, “Maybe Kiyoshi is really sick after all.”

“What,” Topper spit out some of his coffee, “You mean both Kiyoshi and Luke are sick? What the hell am I supposed to do?”

“Guess you’ll just have to work in office today,” Officer Wakehiko said while continuing his own job. As soon as Officer Wakehiko was gone, Topper grew more pissed.

“Ah shit,” Topper cussed, leaning against Akina’s desk, “I don’t like this! Those guys better get well soon.”

“Yeah,” Akina was only half-listening to Topper. She had her mind somewhere else, “Maybe,” Akina began to think, “Maybe Kiyoshi doesn’t hate me.”

--

“There,” Luke set Kiyoshi’s phone back on its receiver, then turned to look at Kiyoshi, who was sitting on the chair across from Luke, “Now we’re both called in sick. Hopefully your friends won’t get suspicious on us.” Kiyoshi stayed silent for a brief second before answering in a soft whisper:

“I doubt it,” The men just sat there. Luke wanted to think of something to say.

“So,” Luke got into his seating position, “We might as well continue with what we started last night.” Kiyoshi swiftly began to rub his hands together. Luke noticed this and took it as a meaning that Kiyoshi was beginning to feel nervous. Luke soon found out why, when Kiyoshi quietly began to talk.

“Ivalyn,” Kiyoshi then whispered. This gave Luke quite a shock.

“Excuse me,” Luke then asked, his own hands beginning to shake, “What did you just say?”

“Ivalyn,” Kiyoshi spoke up, looking up at Luke, “She’s my friend now, so I want to hang out with Ivalyn today, if you don’t mind.” Luke did mind, in fact. He felt furious. But he did not want to make his puppet dislike him anymore, so he gave in to what Kiyoshi wanted.

“Alright,” Luke got to is feet, heading to the door, “We’ll go see Ivalyn.” Kiyoshi was surprised that Luke had agreed to the visit, but he did not question. He really wanted to talk with Ivalyn. Kiyoshi got to his feet and swiftly followed Luke outdoors. Once they reached a hidden dark alley, Luke pulled Kiyoshi onto him and flew off for the hangout.

--

“I’m still worried,” Teo glared angrily at the immortals surrounding him, “Luke’s been gone a lot more often lately. It’s really starting to bug me!”

“I agree,” Rod spoke out, “He’s not been like this before.” The others nodded their heads in agreement, but only Ivalyn, or at least she supposes, she’s the only one who knows and understands why.

“You know,” Ivalyn whispered, “I think it’s a good thing.” The immortals all turned their sneering faces at Ivalyn. Teo gave out a low grumble.

“Why’s it a good thing,” Teo then asked, “He’s our leader!”

“Yes,” Ivalyn nodded, “That is true, but at least he’s getting to spend more time with his puppet. He’s spending more time with the man whom he’s destined to be with. Don’t you at least think that’s great?” Silence fell over the room. The immortals were having trouble either agreeing or disagreeing with Ivalyn.

“Yes,” the quiet Etsu then spoke, which shocked most of the immortal crowd, “That is a good thing.”

“I agree,” cooed both Jewels and Mai. It seemed as if the female immortals were the only ones who understood Luke’s actions. Male immortals were just stubborn. Actually, Chen was the only female immortal who said nothing. She sat in her usual spot on the wobbly stool and ate off of a piece of some type of orange colored fruit.

The sound of a door creaking open turned the heads of each immortal. They all stared silently as both Luke and Kiyoshi came in from behind the door.

“Luke,” Teo spoke rashly, giving Kiyoshi an evil eye, “Where the hell have ya been!”

Luke stayed quiet, though, as he led Kiyoshi down into the dining area. Kiyoshi felt more brave around these immortals, now that he knew each of their names.

“Out,” was Luke’s only reply, he pushed Kiyoshi in front of Ivalyn, “Ivalyn,” Luke spoke, “Kiyoshi wishes to hang out with you today.” Teo’s body tensed up, the other immortals just stared in wonderment, and Ivalyn gave off a tiny smile.

“Really,” Ivalyn looks upon Kiyoshi, “Why is that?”

“Because,” Kiyoshi whispered, hoping the immortals wouldn’t kill him for this, “You’re my friend and I wanted to talk to you, um, alone. Is that okay?” Teo felt his fists tighten up.

“No,” Teo then shouted, stepping in front of his puppet, “It’s not okay.” Luke would normally do something, but this time he stood to watch.

“Teo,” Ivalyn hissed, pulling on Teo’s sleeve, “Please my puppet, don’t harm the boy! Jesus, stop acting so jealous Teo!” Teo turned to his puppet in shock. Ivalyn has never really yelled at him before. Her eyes had turned darker; they were more serious. Teo was about to argue back, but he was pulled into a breathtaking kiss by his puppet. Kiyoshi watched as Ivalyn ended the kiss. She moved her lips over Teo’s right ear, “I love you.” Ivalyn pulled away, then, and gave a reassuring nod to Teo, who was beginning to settle down. He nodded at Kiyoshi, confirming that it was alright. “Thank you,” Ivalyn said to Teo before walking out of the room with Kiyoshi, “So you wanted to tell me something?”

“Yes,” Kiyoshi whispered lowly, hopefully low enough so Luke wouldn’t hear, “But once we’re alone.”

“Oh,” Ivalyn giggled, leading Kiyoshi around a corner, “Alright.” As soon as Ivalyn and Kiyoshi were out of sight, Rod jumped from his own seat and walked straight up into Luke’s face.

“Luke,” Rod then sneered, “Aren’t you going to do something?” Luke kept his eyes on the hallway Ivalyn and Kiyoshi had gone down. His immortal group awaited an answer from him; soon they were given one.

“No,” Luke then whispered.

“No,” Teo almost flew his self against the wall, “What? How come?”

“If my puppet wishes to hang out with Ivalyn today,” Luke spoke with his same, eerie voice as he walked over to grab an apple from the bowl sitting on the table. He brought the apple to his lips, “Then he may do so.” Luke bit into the apple and just stood there chewing away while his fellow immortal comrades stared gaping at him.

--

“We’re alone now,” Ivalyn had guided Kiyoshi into hers and Teo’s bedroom, “How’s everything going with you Kiyoshi? I haven’t seen you nor Luke in such a long while.”

“Well,” Kiyoshi took a seat on a rather comfortable looking stool as Ivalyn sat in front of him; on hers and Teo’s bed, “Luke had joined the OOP and is now working with me.” Ivalyn’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. She tried holding in a laugh, but it came out.

“Really,” Ivalyn giggled, “Luke working as a mortal officer, ha?”

“He did it to get closer to me,” Kiyoshi then spoke, Ivalyn nodding at him as he did so, “Well, at least that’s what he told me. At first I thought he was just stalking me, but then I knew he was serious when he asked about my family. That was the first thing he asked me about,” Ivalyn gave a nod; a smile was on her face as she listened to Kiyoshi, “I never thought anything of it, but then he had promised me that he’d tell me about him. He actually told me about his past life and family.”

“He did,” Ivalyn gasped, “He’s never mentioned any of his past life to us. Not even to Teo or Rod.” Kiyoshi’s eyes widened.

“Really,” Kiyoshi then asked, getting a nod as Ivalyn’s reply, “But then why would he tell me?”

“Kiyoshi,” Ivalyn whispered, “Why don’t you continue?”

“Okay,” Kiyoshi went on to telling Ivalyn everything that had been going on with him and Luke, “Well after hearing Luke’s story, I don’t know what it was, but something inside of me sort of clicked. I felt myself just watching Luke as we shared information about ourselves. He stared at me too, but as I watched him I noticed how he would never blink, or make any noise at all. He’d just sit there staring at me, listening to every little word I said.” Ivalyn began to notice that Kiyoshi was starting to shiver. She was determined to stop him, but she couldn’t. She wanted to hear more. “At first I felt scared by those eyes,” Kiyoshi moved his hands over his forehead, keeping his eyes wide open, but his face grew red; heating all over, “But as I watched closer I couldn’t help but feel, feel…” Kiyoshi let out a sigh, not even caring that Ivalyn is listening to him. He just spoke out his random thoughts, “I felt like I was sitting there on fire, just letting my skin burn.” Kiyoshi was crying now. He licked the salty tears that had dripped around his lips. His nose began to run too.

“Kiyoshi,” Ivalyn then whispered as she walked over to kneel beside Kiyoshi, “Are you trying to tell me that you’re in love with Luke?”

“I don’t know,” Kiyoshi let his head fall as Ivalyn rubbed his back, “Stupid Luke! He just had to come into my life: hurting me, threatening me, taking a job to be with me, forcing me to tell him everything about myself,” Kiyoshi was uncontrollably rocking back and forth. Ivalyn continued to rub his back, hoping Kiyoshi would let everything out, “Then Akina had to just ask me out and kiss me! I wanted it to feel nice, but it didn’t! I hated the kiss, I hated it! But why’d I have to go and remember that stupid kiss Luke gave to me!”

“Luke kissed you,” Ivalyn asked softly, staying by Kiyoshi’s side.

“It was weeks ago,” Kiyoshi cried, “I didn’t think anything of it, but now I realize that I, that I really…” Kiyoshi moved his hands down to rub his teary eyes. He looked over into Ivalyn’s gentle eyes, “I now realize that I enjoyed the kiss. Is that wrong?”

“No Kiyoshi,” Ivalyn kept her smile on, moving her hand to push Kiyoshi’s long bangs out of his eyes, “It’s not wrong at all. Your true feelings have finally come out.”

“What am I going to do?” Kiyoshi asked. Ivalyn embraced Kiyoshi in a hug as he continued to cry.

“Kiyoshi,” Ivalyn then whispered, “I believe you already know what you have to do.” At that time Ivalyn was comforting Kiyoshi, Teo quietly snuck in to listen from behind a corner.

“I’m scared though,” Kiyoshi’s face was resting in Ivalyn’s shoulder; he was getting her sleeve wet but she didn’t seem to mind, “I’m scared. What’ll he say? How will he react?”

“Just follow your heart, Kiyoshi,” Ivalyn drew back from the hug and stared into Kiyoshi’s wet eyes, “I know you can do it. Besides, I have a strong feeling that Luke loves you too.”

Kiyoshi grew quiet, taking in Ivalyn’s words. He knew she was right, again. He needed to tell Luke of his true feelings. Though he was scared of how Luke might react, Kiyoshi needed to talk with Luke…now.

“Ahem,” Ivalyn and Kiyoshi turned to Teo, who stared down at them, “Sorry for interrupting. Kiyoshi, can I say something to you?” Kiyoshi and Ivalyn stood to their feet. Kiyoshi wiped his tears and gave Teo a nod. “Kiyoshi,” Teo rubbed the back of his head. Ivalyn knew where this was going, “I overheard you and Ivalyn. I just wanna say that I’m sorry for ever disliking ya. You’re in okay guy. I understand how it feels to fall in love. That’s why I grew angry, cause I assumed you and Ivalyn were starting to like one another. But now I can see that you really do just see her as a friend.” Kiyoshi’s eyes began to dry as he stared in awe while Teo apologized, “Anyway, Luke’s waiting to take ya back home. If I were you, I’d go ahead and tell him how ya feel. Okay? Don’t be so shy all the time…” Kiyoshi wanted to give Teo a gigantic bear hug, but knew that it’d make Teo feel a tad awkward, so instead Kiyoshi set out his hand to shake Teo’s. Teo let out a snicker and shook the offering hand, “Yeah,” Teo pulled his hand back, “Whatever.”

--

Kiyoshi had waved farewell to Ivalyn, Teo, and the others just before Luke began to fly him home. Luke didn’t even bother asking what Kiyoshi and Ivalyn had done. Kiyoshi was sure Luke was angry that Kiyoshi wanted to talk to Ivalyn, but soon, if Kiyoshi can, Luke will soon know why.

--

“Wow,” Kiyoshi stared at his clock, “It’s already almost 6:00. I guess that’s what we get for sleeping in this morning.” Kiyoshi had loosed up, determined to spill out his feelings to Luke tonight. Kiyoshi slowly turned to Luke, who still looked the way he always did: quiet and motionless. “Well,” Kiyoshi then began to ask, “What do you want to do now?”

“Let’s continue our discussions,” Luke sat on the couch. Kiyoshi joined Luke by his side. Luke got into his sitting position and began, “We left off with pets. You said you never really cared to own any pets.”

“Luke,” Kiyoshi then whispered. Luke noticed Kiyoshi was fiddling with his fingers, “Do you think we could talk about something else?”

“Sure,” Luke whispered, not caring what they discussed, as long as he learned more about Kiyoshi, “What’d you have in mind?” Kiyoshi turned his head to look up at Luke. Luke was still staring at him in that same way. His eyes still looked hidden and lonely. Kiyoshi felt his body tingle all over again and he knew that he had to do something.

“I want to see something,” Kiyoshi then whispered. Luke sat completely still, unsure of what to make of Kiyoshi’s words.

“What do you want to see?” Luke then asked, but was soon given the answer.

Luke stayed completely still as Kiyoshi lifted onto his knees. Reaching his hand out to touch Luke’s cheek, Kiyoshi swiftly, yet softly placed his lips over Luke’s. The same way Akina had done with him. Luke let his left leg from its current sitting position fall. The kiss soon ended. Kiyoshi slowly pulled away and stared into Luke’s eyes. The mood in Luke’s eyes has changed. They looked more curious now, then before.

“Kiyoshi…” Luke whispered in a moan, but his voice was interrupted by Kiyoshi, who was blushing now.

“Shush,” Kiyoshi commanded, moving his lips in for another kiss, “Just don’t talk.”

*End of Chapter 20*