Puppet

CHAPTER 27:


With Luke beside him, Kiyoshi stares up at the OOP building. Kiyoshi gives off a small sigh, wishing he was able to get off work.

Since Kiyoshi told Luke of Ra, Luke has not left Kiyoshi’s side. It’s been four long days since Chen disappeared. Though there has been no unexpected news or surprises from Ra, Luke stays to protect Kiyoshi. Luke eats with Kiyoshi, walks him to the restroom, walks with him to work, eats with him, and sleeps beside him. Kiyoshi feels that Luke may be overdoing it. Of course, Luke knows he is not. He knows Ra; such a despised man; a deadly man who deserves to be tortured to death.

“Damn work,” Kiyoshi whispers, getting Luke’s attention, “I wish we didn’t have to come here.”

“Let’s go,” Luke walks for the doors. Kiyoshi sighs, and follows Luke into the building. They are greeted with waves from the other officers. Akina waves also, giving the two men a smile.

Officer Wakehiko immerges from his office, then. He looks overly exhausted. Kiyoshi realizes, then, that it’s been a long while since he’s really talked to Officer Wakehiko, the man who used to be there for him in the past. Now, he had Luke. This made Kiyoshi feel a tad guilty. So, smiling brightly, Kiyoshi waves.

“Good morning,” Kiyoshi laughs, “Sir Wakehiko.”

Giving his stiff neck a rub, Officer Wakehiko waves back to Kiyoshi and set some papers on Akina’s desk.

“Damn it all,” Officer Wakehiko grumbles, “Since we lost Officers Talakani and Yaichiro, it’s been difficult to get more employees.”

Listening to Officer Wakehiko’s words, Kiyoshi raises an eyebrow in question.

“Huh,” Kiyoshi walks over to his boss; Luke right behind him, “What are you talking about, sir?”

“What,” Officer Wakehiko asks, “What do you mean?”

“Officer Talakani and Yaichiro,” Kiyoshi said, “When did they quit?”

Kiyoshi backed off a bit when Officer Wakehiko and Akina gave him saddened glares. Popping his back, Officer Wakehiko let off a low groan.

“You mean you never knew?” Officer Wakehiko sighs at Kiyoshi’s shrug, “The two were murdered over five weeks ago, Kiyoshi! How could you not know that?”

“What,” Kiyoshi gasps. Behind him, Luke is just staring. This was before he even came to work with them, “They were—murdered?”

“Yes,” Officer Wakehiko speaks with a hint of disappointment, “While working on that one murder case we were never able to solve. The one with all the dead bodies, remember now?”

Both Kiyoshi and Luke did. Each man had forgotten about the bodies. Both were two busy paying attention to one another.

“Luckily for us,” Officer Wakehiko continues, “That it has been quiet. Our mysterious murderer disappeared right after those two were murdered, leaving no other signs. It’s still in as one of our folder cases, but we haven’t been able to look into anything with it. I just can’t believe you never knew, Kiyoshi.”

“I’m sorry,” Kiyoshi frowns, “I—I’ve been busy lately. I just assumed they quit.”

“Well,” Officer Wakehiko gives Kiyoshi a smile, “Just be sure to give them your prayers now.” Officer Wakehiko could not stay mad at Kiyoshi for long. Kiyoshi was too important to him.

“Yes sir,” Kiyoshi nods, “I will.”

--

Now sitting at his desk, Kiyoshi does give a small prayer for the two officers that were lost. Kiyoshi feels a tiny burden of guilt. How could he not know? After all this time, two great officers were lost. Letting out a moaning sigh, Kiyoshi drops his head down on to his desk. He is received with a small sting when his forehead came in contact with the wood.

“Ow,” Kiyoshi groans, lifting his head to rub his forehead, “That hurt.”

“Are you all right?”

Kiyoshi lifts his head to see Luke staring down at him. Kiyoshi gives a pleased smile.

“I’m fine,” Kiyoshi whispers, “It was only a bonk.”

Kiyoshi’s eyebrow rises at the hearing of a strange sound. What was that? He looked at Luke’s throat; then up at Luke’s lips. Luke was slightly laughing.

“At least,” Luke jokes, “It didn’t make you cry.”

Kiyoshi lets off a tiny grumble. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Kiyoshi awaits
an answer. He is received by a warming smile. He stares at Luke with utter shock. “Luke…” Kiyoshi’s voice trails. Was this flirting? Was Luke flirting with him, and at work, no less? If so, Luke was terrible at it, but who could blame him? He was Luke, after all.

Kiyoshi watched his lover walk off back over to his own desk. Kiyoshi couldn’t help but giggle. Luke had actually made him feel better. Kiyoshi was glad. He didn’t want to think of anything upsetting. So, he went straight to work knowing that Luke was right there on the opposite side of the building.

--

The day went by fast. The evening sky was growing darker, it seemed. Darker then usual. Luke’s eyes looked from left to right once outside the building. He kept his eyes open. Behind him, Kiyoshi was struggling wit his jacket. The wind seemed to be blowing more ferociously then usual.

“Come on other sleeve,” Kiyoshi growls, “You stupid thing—huh?” Kiyoshi looks up in time to see Luke hovering over him. Luke grabs his arm; grabs the jacket sleeve. He holds it in place and gently pushes Kiyoshi’s arm through. Kiyoshi’s face blushed knowing that some people walking by had glanced at them, but Luke didn’t seem bothered by the stares.

“There,” Luke says once the jacket is on, “Come on.”

Luke and Kiyoshi begin to walk for home. Home to Kiyoshi nowadays was the immortal hideout. Luke assured Kiyoshi he’d be safer there. They also walked for there were more people out in the evenings then late at night. Once far enough away, however, they would take flight.

--

The two now had arrived at their destination. Luke opened the door that day. The wind was gustily. Kiyoshi made his way in first, and Luke came in behind him. The door closed with a loud bang. The bang echoed off the steel walls. Once inside, Kiyoshi set his hand in Luke’s. Luke was never taken back by this. The two were what many would consider a couple now. He allowed Kiyoshi to take his hand, and the two walked to greet the other immortals.

Kiyoshi sat with them during supper time, and he sat with them in the mornings when he ate fruit and rice for breakfast. He almost felt like one of them now. However, he knew that if he dare slice his wrist with a knife, it would never heal immediately. He only wished that it would; he wished that it could. That there was some way he could magically become an immortal like Luke. It was impossible.

With chopsticks in his right hand, Kiyoshi swiftly chewed into his vegetable and rice dinner as the immortals hungrily ate their own meals. They always seemed to be cheery; always seemed to find conversation. Kiyoshi sometimes would wonder where they buy their food; or how. Did they steal it? Did they have certain jobs? Was it Luke’s job to do all the work and bring back the money? A part of Kiyoshi didn’t want to find out. Even though he wasn’t afraid to sit by them now, he still thought that if he said the wrong thing they’d angrily glare at him, and hope to beat him to a pulp. Luke would not allow that.

--

Once finished with dinner, Kiyoshi was already being taken by Luke to the bedroom chamber the two stayed in. The same routine each night. Luke had his own private restroom. It was shared with Kiyoshi now.

When they entered Luke’s bedroom, Kiyoshi immediately plopped down onto the large bed. It no longer was in the same position when Luke had his way with Kiyoshi. It now sat in the middle of the room, and the mirror was where the bed once was. Kiyoshi found it odd that Luke moved his furniture around, but he never bothered asking. He was, in all honestly, almost glad that the furniture was no longer in the same way when Luke did ‘that’ to Kiyoshi for the first time. Kiyoshi was almost thankful that Luke moved the furniture into a new style within the room.

“Phew,” Kiyoshi smiles; his back on the bed’s sheets, “Another long day over with.” Kiyoshi watched is love slowly paced over to look out the tiny rectangular window. He glanced up at the bright moon. It was almost full, but was cut off. “Luke, what’s wrong? Are you still worried?” Kiyoshi was not given an answer, but he knew. “Hey Luke, I’ve been thinking,” Kiyoshi whispers. He leans up into a sitting position as Luke turns to face him, “It’s been almost five days now.” Kiyoshi gives off a wide smile of hope. “I think maybe since Ra knows you’re protecting me, he won’t bother me anymore. Maybe he’s afraid of you.”

Luke disliked Kiyoshi’s overconfidence. He gave off a small sigh and went to sit beside his puppet. “I’m afraid that’s not true. Well, I cannot believe it, anyway. He’ll come…”

Kiyoshi frowns. He knew Luke was somehow correct. Kiyoshi didn’t want to mess with a massacre. He wanted his life to be normal. He wanted to forget the death of his parents, and to move on once and for all. However, this gut feeling within him tells Kiyoshi that it won’t pass until Ra is dealt with. He just didn’t know how they could defeat the evil, powerful monster of a man. He didn’t even look human.

Kiyoshi’s wondering mind comes back at the softness of Luke’s voice. “Kiyoshi,” Luke whispers while placing his hand around his puppet’s shoulder, “You know he’ll be back don’t you?”

“Yes,” Kiyoshi answers. With a sigh, Kiyoshi wraps his arms around Luke; rests his head on Luke’s steady breathing chest, “I do. I just wish that—I wish that…”

“I know,” Luke says. His voice is still quiet. With his eyes lowered over Kiyoshi’s head, Luke gently pushes back the large bang that always gets in Kiyoshi’s eyes. It’s the only large bang Kiyoshi has, but it’s one of his cute, special features which Luke adores. He lets a tiny smile creep over is lips as the bang goes right back over Kiyoshi’s left eye. Luke’s smile disappears when he feels Kiyoshi’s body shivering. “Are you cold?”

“Just a little,” Kiyoshi barely replies, “You do have a cold room.”

“Sorry about that,” Luke removes his self from Kiyoshi, but not completely. With his arms, he lays Kiyoshi back and climbs over him. Kiyoshi gives Luke a questioning stare.

“What…” Kiyoshi tries to speak, but Luke interrupts.

“I’d love to warm you up,” Luke smiles, “If you let me.”

*End of Chapter 27*