Puppet

CHAPTER 24:


“…Luke, I’m sorry! I’m SORRY!”

Ra smirked upon his prize. Kiyoshi had such a cute, innocent face. What a definite way for him to be humiliated. Nothing could ruin this perfect plan. Well…so Ra believed.

“Ra,” gasped a female voice, “What are you doing?”

Ra angrily glanced up at a shaking Chen. Kiyoshi tilted his head up at her, too. Kiyoshi’s eyes, however, showed confusion. What was Chen doing? How did she know Ra; this terrible, terrible man? Kiyoshi knew. This was the plan all along. Chen has been working with Ra and Kiyoshi was the bait. But at this moment, Chen was defending Kiyoshi and Kiyoshi did not know why.

“You promised not to hurt him,” Chen shouted, “This was not part of our deal! I promised to bring the boy here to see you, not to get fucked by you!”

“Calm down,” Ra sneered, “Kiyoshi and I were just having a bit of fun.”

“If you even dare hurt him,” Chen hissed almost like a cat, “Then Luke will figure it out. He’ll know if something has happened! He’s smarter then he looks, you know?”

“Yes,” Ra glares down at Kiyoshi, “He would know.”

Kiyoshi felt a shot of joy as Ra lifted off of him. Just as soon as Ra was to his feet, Kiyoshi covered his bare chest and got to a sitting position. His eyes stilled showed panic as he adjusted to all that has just occurred.

“You got off lucky Kiyoshi,” Ra bent to his knees. His eyes drew close to Kiyoshi’s, “But I promise you that this is not over. For the remainder of your life, I will be there to haunt it. And don’t even think of telling Luke about this little acquaintance, or I will kill you. Perhaps I’ll kill you in front of him. I’m sure he wouldn’t miss an incoherent, insignificant little shrimp such as you.”

Ra’s dark words hit Kiyoshi hard. They stung worse than a bee. Ra came to stand again.

“Now,” Ra orders, “Take this shrimp out of my sight.”

Chen bent down and grabbed tightly to Kiyoshi’s waist. Kiyoshi gave her a pleading stare; a stare of complete shame. “Why,” Kiyoshi stuttered as Chen began to fly off, “Why Chen? Why?”

Chen disliked the look Kiyoshi gave her. She ignored his ashamed face and kept her eyes fixed on getting him back to his apartment. “Just shut up!”

--

“Kiyoshi,” Chen spoke, “You heard Ra’s order. If you dare tell Luke about any of this, Ra will kill you. He never lies.”

Chen soon returns Kiyoshi home and Kiyoshi knew that he would not be able to sleep that night. He’d see Luke in the morning and he would be sure to spill the beans.

“I’ll leave now,” Chen whispered as she stared at Kiyoshi’s saddened face, “Remember, don’t tell Luke, or that bitch Ivalyn. Don’t tell a soul!” With that said, Chen disappeared, leaving Kiyoshi alone in the darkened room.

--

Kiyoshi did not want to go to work. Luke would be there. Keeping a secret about seeing Ra is going to be difficult to keep, but Kiyoshi knew he had to try. Though he did not want to face Luke, Kiyoshi just had a strange feeling. Maybe he was still a tad afraid from almost being raped by that dangerous man, perhaps it was a feeling of guilt running across Kiyoshi’s mind. He knew he wasn’t strong enough to push Ra off of him, but at least he could’ve tried…right?

“Oh,” Kiyoshi hugged his self, “Why’d this have to happen? Why? Right when Luke and I told how we feel about each other. That man has to show his face!” Kiyoshi’s face drooped at the sight of the roses beside his bed. They seemed sadder; less shiny and alive then before, “Mother…”

--

“Kiyoshi,” Akina happily waved, “Hello.”

Kiyoshi waved back to the cheery Akina once he entered the OOP building. Ever since the date with Akina, Kiyoshi has tried staying clear from her. He didn’t know what to say to her, and for some reason he was beginning to believe that Akina did not know what to say to him, either. They kept their distance.

Akina was still afraid, upset, and troubled about her one date with Kiyoshi. She still had a crush on him, but she did not know how to make up for that one night. Kiyoshi had not seemed to enjoy the kiss she gave him. It made her feel heartbroken, but Akina did not want to give up her love for him. She was determined to try again with him, but was still unsure of how to approach him. All she does is wave hello to him in the mornings and wave farewell to him in the evenings. This, she feels, is all that she can do as of now. Other then a few hellos and goodbyes, the two keep their distance.

As Kiyoshi walked over to his little office table, Luke walked through the doors. Kiyoshi felt his face redden and quickly covered up his cheeks. He did not want for this! Honestly, Kiyoshi had prayed Luke would magically be sick, but he was immortal and that was quite impossible. Besides that, it seems that since the two of them clicked, Luke has never wanted to take his eyes off of Kiyoshi unless necessary.

Akina gave Luke her usual hello. She was not shy of him. Luke gave her a wave and hello back before making his way up to Kiyoshi. Kiyoshi tried to stay calm, but his body wanted to sweat off the nervousness.

“Good morning Kiyoshi,” Luke whispers. Kiyoshi was shocked to see that Luke had this amazing smile on, “How are you this morning?”

“I’m,” Kiyoshi jumped from his seat then. He could not control his body, “Has anyone seen Topper! Is Topper not here today?”

“He called in sick,” answered an officer named Masakazu, “I heard he was throwing up cats and dogs last night! Poor guy…”

“Oh,” Kiyoshi could feel the heat now. He’d have to work with Luke alone today, “That’s…terrible.”

“Kiyoshi,” Luke whispers, “Is something wrong?”

“N, no,” Kiyoshi smiles, “Nothing…”

Luke, however, truly wasn’t stupid. He could see right through Kiyoshi. Something was not right and he was going to find out.

That morning he did not have a chance. Officer Wakehiko came through the doors and handed them an assignment.

“Seems some man shot three guys and ran off with a sack full of goodies,” Officer Wakehiko explained, “Luke, I’m giving this task to you and Kiyoshi. Last I heard the guy was running for the city’s old garbage dump and disappeared in there somewhere. Be careful, though, the place is falling apart.”

“Sure thing,” Luke answered back. He turned to his partner and gave Kiyoshi a tiny nod, “You ready?”

Kiyoshi only replied with a nod as Luke and he were off. Hopefully work would leave them out of discussion. Kiyoshi only hoped that he’d last through the day, though at this point, he’d have to keep the Ra meeting a secret for the remainder of his life.

--

Officer Wakehiko had been correct. The old garbage dump was physically falling to pieces. Metal scraps, cans, and other sharp objects were pointing up from the ground. Some even dangled from the ceilings above them; being kept held by ropes. As Kiyoshi and Luke stepped through the rummage, Luke stood close to Kiyoshi.

“Watch your step,” Luke whispered, “I’m right behind you.”

Kiyoshi couldn’t control the grumble that escaped through his lips. Luke kept his eyes fixed on Kiyoshi and took this as a perfect opportunity.

“Alright,” Luke spoke loudly, “So will you tell me what’s bothering you?”

“Nothing is,” Kiyoshi argued, “I told you, I’m perfectly fine.” Kiyoshi nearly fell back as Luke grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him into a hug.

“You are not fine,” Luke whispered harshly into Kiyoshi’s left ear, “Don’t lie to me Kiyoshi.” Kiyoshi couldn’t tell. He kept repeating in his mind. Don’t tell; don’t tell…even if it risks his relationship with Luke. He did not want Luke to get hurt, or Ivalyn, or his self. He could not risk that.

“Let me go!” Kiyoshi pulls away from Luke and begins to run. Luke shouted for him, but Kiyoshi ignored the shouts.

Kiyoshi nearly missed the hearing of a snap. Stopping in his tracks, he turns to see two giant broken glass pieces coming down towards him. They had been dangling off of a piece of brown rope. It must’ve just come loose.

“Kiyoshi,” shouted Luke from behind, “Move!” Kiyoshi was stunned, but he felt a force push him out of the way. It had been Luke. Kiyoshi watched in horror as the glass pieces cut across a frozen Luke. The glass was sharp enough to cut the wrists on Luke’s hands and the long, flowing brown hair behind his back. Kiyoshi stared in horror as blood and hair fell to the ground. Luke was a bit stunned his self as the glass cut through is pony and left his hair uneven.

The glass pieces were coming back and Luke quickly dived down to grab Kiyoshi. He flew out of the way of the glass pieces, which finally came loose off the ropes and shattered into millions of pieces on the ground.

Once the danger was gone, there was silence. Kiyoshi and Luke both breathed heavily. Soon Luke’s breath was calmed down enough. He released his tightened grip on Kiyoshi and sat on his knees. His wrists were cut halfway open. Kiyoshi was terrified at the sight of flesh and bone.

“Luke,” Kiyoshi cried, “Your hands aren’t healing.”

“Don’t worry,” Luke whispered back; his voice sounded upset, “They’ve already started to heal.” Luke has been right. Soon, Luke’s bloodied hands were sewed up by an invisible number of stitches and the leftover blood has dried on Luke’s hands.

“Luke,” Kiyoshi whispered, “Your hair…”

Luke turned his head around. His hair was half gone. Most of Luke’s hair was back under the shattered glass, along with his special yellow string he used to tie his hair back. Luke let out a soft grunt and stood to his feet. “It’ll grow back in its own time.”

“You mean,” Kiyoshi began, “It won’t grow back quicker?”

“Yes,” Luke answered, “It’s not like a wound, Kiyoshi. It’ll only grow back on its own time.”

Kiyoshi did not know what to say. He was shivering by the time he was able to stand. Luke; Kiyoshi’s love, stood there looking hurt, angry, and sad. Kiyoshi felt ashamed of himself. He couldn’t believe he had caused this and yet he still did not want to tell Luke of Ra.

“Luke…” Kiyoshi tried to say something and Luke looked as if he expected Kiyoshi too, but Kiyoshi could not speak.

Luke was very disappointed. “Let’s head back,” Luke whispered, “I don’t think that guy is here. It’s too dangerous of a hideout. He’d be nuts if he were to hide here.”

--

The OOP officers were stunned at the sight of Luke’s hair. Akina felt the most sorry for him. Luke claimed that it was only an accident, but the others thought he looked pretty shaken up and were just glad that the glass hadn’t injured him. Boy how wrong they were. Officer Wakehiko immediately told Luke to take the remainder of the day off. Luke agreed with Officer Wakehiko and left without saying anything more to Kiyoshi. Kiyoshi felt woozy, but stayed at work. He didn’t want to draw anymore attention from the terrifying encounter. If he asked to go home, Officer Wakehiko would be all over him and he didn’t want that. With the pain of guilt still rising over his heart, Kiyoshi went to work on some papers, hoping it’d calm him down.

--

Luke slowly walked through the hallways of his gang’s hangout. He heard the voices of Ivalyn, Teo, Rod, and others laughing amongst their selves in the other room. Luke did not want them to see him like this, not until he’s fixed the problem. As softly as possible, Luke makes his way for his room.

Kiyoshi has gone too far. This is what Luke believes. What is on Kiyoshi’s mind? Luke is determined to find out and now he’s willing to use force on his puppet.

With a knife in his hand, Luke stared at his reflection in the mirror of his bedroom. His first mission was to fix the mess of hair that had been sliced off by the sharp glass. Taking hold of some of the hair that hadn’t been sliced off, Luke held the knife up and began to cut. He just stared at his reflection with empty eyes as he sliced the remaining long strands of his hair to match with the now shorter ones. What was once a beautiful fountain of long brown hair was now, well, a style in which Luke never dreamed of having before.

*End of Chapter 24*