Puppet

CHAPTER 33:


To the sounds of upcoming footsteps, Kiyoshi swiftly turns his head to see the shaky figure of Luke.

Kiyoshi does not rush into Luke’s arms right away. He notices that Luke seemed almost bewildered by something. “Luke…?”

Luke raises his head to stare over at Kiyoshi, and his fellow group. He tries to keep his body calm, and relaxes his shoulders. Taking in a deep breath, Luke makes his way over to Kiyoshi. After a few steps, Luke reaches his puppet, and embraces Kiyoshi in a hug. Kiyoshi grows confused.

“Luke,” Kiyoshi asks, “Where’s Ra? What happened to him? What happened in there? What did you talk about?”

Kiyoshi was shooting too many questions too fast at Luke. He couldn’t take it all in. He just stood there, and held his puppet tightly.

“Luke,” Kiyoshi whispers, “Why are you shaking?”

“Nothing,” Luke almost shouts, “Nothing. Ra left for now. Let’s—let’s go to my bedroom.”

“No,” Kiyoshi struggles out of the hug, “I want to know what happened in there!
Tell me, please!”

The immortals wish to know, as well. What had the two discussed? They kept their ears wide open, hoping Luke would spill everything, but he never did. Shaking his head, Luke turned and wobbly began to walk back for his room, expecting Kiyoshi to follow.

Kiyoshi worriedly turns to Ivalyn, who could only shrug and urge Kiyoshi to go with Luke. Giving a nod, Kiyoshi moves fast to catch up with Luke. Though Luke acted shaky, he still moved fast on his feet.

--

“Luke,” Kiyoshi whispers once they’ve entered the bedroom, “What’s wrong with you?”

“I’ll be fine,” Luke slowly sits on his bed, “You shouldn’t worry about me. Ra will be back. From now on, never go anywhere without my consent.”

Kiyoshi began to shiver. Something about the room seemed different. The room was chilled over. It was filled with some hidden sadness that blocked out the warmness Kiyoshi shared with Luke.

“What did you guys talk about,” Kiyoshi asks, “I want to know.”

“We,” Luke whispers, “We didn’t talk much. Just catching up, I guess you could say. Though, when it comes to him, I wouldn’t call it a friendly catching up.” Luke finally has calmed down, though deep inside he still felt dizzy and wobbly.

Rising his head, Luke looked up at his puppet. “Kiyoshi, promise me that you’ll stay by my side until this whole matter is done and over with. I—I do not want to see you get hurt. Ra is more powerful then you may think. Who knows when he’ll strike again?” Luke’s sad face turns serious as he gives Kiyoshi a glare. “Do you promise?”

Kiyoshi was unsure by the sudden glare Luke gave to him. Sure, Kiyoshi knew Ra was very powerful, and perhaps indestructible, but he also knew that if he did not do as Luke asks then he may end up getting injured or worse; killed. “I promise, Luke.”

--

Switching the final light off, Luke turned to his side and wrapped his strong arm over Kiyoshi, who he thought to already be asleep. However, as he goes to rest his eyes, Luke can softly hear the faint humming of Kiyoshi’s song taught to him by his mother. “Kiyoshi…”

“Sorry,” Kiyoshi speaks up in a whisper, “I just felt that I needed to hum that song. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“It’s fine,” Luke whispers back, “Go ahead and sing it aloud if it makes you feel better.”

There was silence, but soon Kiyoshi let out a sweet sigh. “Thank you…” Kiyoshi begins 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.”

As Kiyoshi sings the beautiful lyrics of his mother’s song, Luke fully listens to the words for the first time. Yes, he has heard the song before, but that first time he had not listened to the meaning of the lyrics. Now, as he hears it, it sounds almost—almost as if the song itself were written for the cause of him, Kiyoshi, and something else. Luke put his finger on it, and was surprised by what he believed the song to mean.

“Wow,” Luke thinks, “It’s—it’s un-explanatory. What does this mean?”

--

Buttoning the final button on his OOP uniform, Kiyoshi glanced in Luke’s mirror. They had work that day. Though neither man wished to go, they knew that they had to so not to make Officer Wakehiko suspicious. Kiyoshi’s been gone too many times already, so he knew he had to show and pretend his life was going normally.

With one final touch of placing his OOP cap over his short black hair, yet his long black bang still stuck out from underneath the cap, Kiyoshi made his way to join Luke and his immortal friends for some breakfast.

--

Luke scoots over as his puppet sits beside him. Luke and the others already began to dig into the food, though each immortal were extra careful. They had not yet finished cleaning up the entire mess Ra had left for them. Most of the large glass pieces had been disposed of, however there were still a few hidden pieces that almost each immortal has taken a step on. They knew that they’d heal, but they were to work hard so Kiyoshi wouldn’t get hurt.

“Kiyoshi,” Luke speaks, “When we get to work, remember to…”

“Don’t worry Luke,” Kiyoshi smiles, “I’ll be fine. Jeez, I’m more concerned about you then myself.”

“Me,” Luke stares back at Kiyoshi shocked, “Why worry about me?”

“Well,” Kiyoshi sighs, “I’m sorry Luke, but since last night you haven’t seemed like yourself. Just try not to get to protective of me at work. I’m afraid Sir Wakehiko may discover you aren’t mortal. I have not spoken with him much lately, and he knows it, too. He’s been like a father to me since I lost my parents, and well, I know he worries just as much as you do.”

“Okay,” Luke turns his face away, “I’ll try hard, too.”

Kiyoshi gives Luke his best smile of gratitude. “Thank you…”

--

The door opens wide, and Ra steps in. He glares down at the figure hidden underneath the black cloak.

“My dear Chen,” Ra hisses, “How long are you going to mope about? You may not know, but it’s your own fault for betraying dear Luke and his weak group. Now, are you going to come out from under there, or must I use force?”

“I’m sorry master,” Chen lifts the hood off her tear-streaked face, “I’m ready to serve again.”

“My dear, sweet Chen,” Ra embraces her, “Do not fret, for you see, soon this whole thing will be over with. I’ve discovered something quite interesting about Luke. Though it took him a while to unleash the secret, he’s finally beginning to show his true self.”

Chen was confused. She gave Ra a quizzical glare, and removed her self from his grasp. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, my darling,” Ra smirks, “That though he may not seem like it, Luke is more like me then he wishes to realize. Soon, his true power will come out, and we’ll see exactly which of us is the most powerful; the most worthy to survive.”

“You mean,” Chen shakes her head, “that Luke… I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand.”

“Oh don’t worry,” Ra chuckles and goes to hug Chen again, “Don’t you worry about that. Soon you will see. You will, as will Luke, and darling Kiyoshi. Ah yes, I can’t wait to see the horrified look in his eyes when his own puppet reaches the point of reaching his great power and strength. For now though, I shall go under cover to witness how the two live their lives. I shall follow their every move without them knowing I’m there. When the time comes, I shall destroy them both.”

*End of Chapter 33*