Pick Me

Five Chapter Sample

Please understand this book has strong language and harsh undertones.

PICK ME

BY: BRIDGETA NK SHORT

Chapter One

Come home.

"Why can't no one hear me!" Youi cried out loud snow fell from a branch the quietness in the air. Tear's rolled down her cheek's her body trembling as the wind blew and brushed across her soft Dark yellow brown skin.

Whipping away the tears from her face grabbing a medium sized backpack an cell phone the case had flowers on it reminded her of spring an how her favorite Lilly would bloom during that time.

Youi tapped her phone lightly letting out a small sigh a breath of cold air loose from her lips.

34 message's

10 missed calls

It's possible there isn't anything wrong why do I get the feeling I should check in?

Why would anyone actually care if I left a stupid party.

Why should I even bother to call back.

The crushing sound of defrost an ice under her shoe's made her feel as though winter was never ending.

Wishing she could rewind time and start over aging be born in a differnt universe.

Her phone went off the ring tone was a light buzz.Youi only knew it was soka calling they been friends since ever, but that made no diffrence. She contemplated wether or not to answer it.

His porbaly worried about me.

Looking over the pictuer that lit up on her phone the caller ID read out his name.

Soka <3

She answer's. "Soka?" she says in a calm mellow voice smiling softly.

Soka: "Why did you leave? Everyone is looking for you." He chuckled lightly hearing others in the backround. "Listen dumbass you get back here and get back here quick its not your birthday its mine!"He said in hushed tones an then hangs up before youi could say anything.

"I-" The smile disappears from her face. The slightes bight of calmness was gone.

Well ok? Youi never heard him sound so upset before unless she count the mutiple times when his Big brother was around.

Giving herself time to breath in the winter air, youi take's in another deep breath gazed up towards the sky. Her phone buzz's once again.

Messages:

Soka<3

Where the fuck are you! Get the fuck back here now!

I'm tired of your constant bullshit you are so fucking dramatic!!

Everyone is out looking for you. And for what I'm calling it off it's actually

a waste of time. For fuck sake Youi!! Can't you once be normal.

Throwing the phone against the pavement the screen a bit smashed youi toke a small breath and picked up her phone.

Clinching her shirt tears fell It was all her fault she thought , I have to get home what's the point in going back. she ponder to herslef.

Walking towards the outing of the forest. I should try to calm down. I'm sure soka is just worried about me. Only good friends are that honest and kind to look for you.

That's the only reason he would say those things. He doesn't mean it. He couldn't mean it. Her eyes was swelling from crying her pants was a mess from the icey trail in the forest. Trying her best to convinve herself that soka would never speak to her in any form or fashion include in a way that would harm her.

Approching the sidewalk making her way towards soka's house, Youi toke a small pause before going any further.. Why should I even go back no one want me there beside's "she's" there he is much happier when his with her then me.

Youi looked up into a open window with birthday décor plastered on it. She can clearly see soka and everyone else having a good time.

no one..

really was worried about me.

IT WAS ALL A LIE.

ALL A LIE.

With a small turn on the heel of her shoe youi turned around and started walking home across the street.

The distance between soka house and Youi's wasn't much. They lived right across the street from eachother.

Soka was her bestfriend they went to the same elementary,middle and high school.

He was there through it all with her.

And her with him and his family

But this was different high school was something new for us, both of us.

It has changed him. And that's not a good thing. His not the same soka I grew up with. She told herslef.

Walking towards the house she looked at her hand's that she wrapped in bandages reminding herself of everything that's happened. Rolling her eyes she truns the coner. lifting her head youi stops in her tracks her eyes comes to a hualt.

"Tokayami.." He was soka's big brother possibly only big brother. He went to a over sea collage and had graduated last year from high school.

All the first year's had a hard on for him.I couldn't understand why? His never been over my house not since he went off to collage. I always went to soka and Tokayami's, soka always knew he was welcome'd he would even come by for dinner and after school at times.

Once we both entered high school it all stopped.

Dragging her feet Youi approached him slowly.

He has changed a great deal. His much taller then I rememberd. Are those pirceing's?

"Hey..um my brother was worried about you he sent out a search party." Tokayami expressed rubbing the back of his neck.

Youi looked at him with her hand's in her pocket. I know soka called off the search party so why is he really here.

"yeah well after he called me I fell and lost my phone so just tell him that." She replied back to Tokayami. Of crouse I lied the screen broke.

Cought off gard from the reply he watched Youi walk past him with her bag in hand and key in another. "Wait I-" Tokayami try's to get the words out but they get stuck in his thort like glue or harden paste he couldn't speak.

Youi looks aback upon Tokayami. "I wasn't going to go back until I knew you was safe." Tokayami says calmly hand rested still upon his neck waiting for her to say somthing the air soften around him he grew anxious watching her movments.

What is he trying to say?

Dose he want me to go to that party with me?

I can't show my face there not when she is there.

What she did was so embersing I couldn't show my face there not again.

"Tokayami go with out me okay give soka my happy birthday wish's and my apology's as well." She new it wasn't going to end there. Tokayami never gives up and youi knew that from the relationship him and his brother have tothger.

"If your not going can I come in and set with you?" Tokayami asked persistently.

"Fine just until my parents get home then you have to go." Youi said with a small smile on her face.

With a big smile on his face Tokayami followed behind youi biting the bottom of his lip softly taking in every step.

"Hey dose your folks still do take out Friday's? It's been so long since I been over I remember how much fun Friday's where." He said in excitment with his hands in his pocket's the door closing behind him. They both toke there shoe's off the house was very modern style home. Youi's parents was Agent's For The Mermaid inter force of intelligence basically AMIFI. They Do hand's on and filed work debating weather or not mermaids are real or not. Some side exbadtions as well.

Her parent's have gotten close but several other secret corp and angets are after there work. Inculeding people in the local area. The evening rolled on youi an tokayami both waited for her parents who didn't show.

Tokayami toke it upon himself to stay the night of course her parents had no issue with guy's staying over as long as they stayed in the guest room or the living room. Her parents believe another person room is where they'll keep there secrets and most prized possession and belong's and privacy is important.

Tokayami had no problem with sleeping in the spare guest room.

"keeping you company until they arive I dont mind no one should be alone. Don't worry I'll be gone by time they show up promise. I'm a light sleeper so if you need anything knock." looks at youi giving her his signature grin.

"okay fine but text your family and let them know where you are. I don't want them worrying." Youi spoke up. Checking her phone over and over hoping ache'n for Soka or her mom to text call something anything. Breathing deeply but nothing it was blank youi phone screen saver was of her and Tokayami the day him and his family went on the fishing trip soka had brought "her" along that was the same day youi noticed soka was changing towards her and there friendship was it possible fading?

Youi tapped her thumb on her smashed up screen looking through her pictures.

"Everything okay?" Tokayami asked startled by his presents in the room youi thought she was alone for a second.

" I-um-I'm just worried about my mom and was in thought …" her thought's drifted off an towards her phone once more memories of her and soka leaped through her mind.

"I'm sorry." she spoke quitley under her breath.

Tokayami crossed his arm's more concern then before. " Why sorry?" he asked in speculation.

"Nothing I'm going to bed you should to the guest room is down the hall way." she spoke her heart throbbing and aching. "Why cant we share a room?" Tokayami say's he grab's her wrist pulling her in towards him. "B-Because It's private." with that youi trund away snatching her hand away from him running up the stairs and slamming the door.

What was that all about? youi ponderd

Tokayami grab's himself a drink from the fridge, toke a last look upstairs where youi was sleeping. With a little trun upon his heel and a rub upon his neck he laid down in the guest room.

Place his hand in his pocket pulling out a small red book that read private in bold letters. Tokayami opened it gentely bit his finger. Wrote inside the small run down book that was so private to only him. Tokayami laid there not closing his eyes or blinking but with a big smile upon his face an a thought crossing his mind.

"all this time and I finally get to be this close to you. If only soka was here now. NO!"

He kept mubbleing to his self until the lids on his eyes felt heavy repeating the same thing over and over again.

As if it meant something important.

Dawn came slowly and made her dream's feel like soft cotton as if yesterday never existed. The smell of fresh noodles and eggs filled the house. Rubbing her eyelid's youi looked out the window for a quick second then proecced to cover her head with her blanket. "mom dad I missed you." Gradually taking her sweet time down the stairs youi turned the corner. There he was still here In a apron at that.

"ah" stareing at him youi was a bit surprised.

"goodmoring hope I didn't wake you." Tokayami eyes laced it's self among her.

"Aren't you going to school today. Oh and also there was someone at your door asking about your parents they wanted me to give you this, they said it's supposed to be something important." Tokayami expressed wiping his hand's on the apron he then handed her the package along with a letter. Tokayami grabbed the food setting it at the table.

"If your not going to school today could you at least head out and grab some stuff."

Tokayami he convey making his self comfortable after one day in her home. Rolling her eye's looking across the room at him a bit annoyed."Toka you can't stay here. Just because you are on winter break dosen't mean you can just slum it at my parents." youi chuckled a bit opening up her package comfortablely. Tokayami smiled taking a sip of his water. "I just want to make sure your taking care of before I headed back home next week is christmas I just want everyone to be able to recviec there gift."

Tokayami smiled innocently speaking humbly. A light breath came from youi as she rolled her eyes once more. The hearty exchange disappeared once she saw the paintings and pictuers inside she read the letter.

Tears filled her eyes. "youi are you okay?" Tokayami voiced. Her whole world being to crash in just minutes. With just four words wirten in black and white her parents they was nothing but a memory.

A glimps of her face Tokayami was hooked with a rush to her side his hands and arms intwind into a small hug around her waste. "It's okay you just let it out scream yell do what you need." Tokayami mumble holding youi in his arms. "NOOOO!" youi screamed into his chest lacthing onto him tears gushed and pourd out like a storm, youi hit's his chest over and over. Tokayami held her hands close asking her to go set on the couch while he clean up the kitchen a bit. Youi fell to the floor in tears screaming at the top of her lounges wishing and hopeing it wasn't true. Tokayami rushed to her side helping her up off the floor and to the couch.

Tokayami held her closer mumbling to himself as youi kept crying unbearable into his arm's "I'm not going any where." he kept repeating to hisself until youi fell asleep. Tokayami slowly got up from the couch covering Youi with a blanket.

"I will be right back." utterd in hushed tone near her ear rubbing his hand across youi face looking over her as she slept his eyes full of love and compassion for only her.

"I can't wait for you to be mine." Tokayami utterd to himself. He cleaned up the kitchen putting away the leftover's. Tokayami kept an eye on youi a very close eye on her. He was affired and didn't know what to do looking over at the couch his herat ache to be near her at all times.

His phone went off. Nverously looking for it through his pockets and under the cushions of the other couches. Once tokayami found the horrid nosie that could disturbed youi's peace and quite. Tokayami clicked the silent button. Going outside was the only solution he didn't want to be away from youi's side not while she was vulnerable and weak. Taking a look at the caller ID his expression changed more grim.

"my dumb brother" he looked back seeing youi still asleep his eyes grew more intense watching youi through the window.

Pressing the phone to his ear. "What do you want?" Tokayami answerd in frustration.

"Don't you want to know what happened at my birthday party big brother?" soka questioned teasingly knowing his on big brother's intions. But what soka didn't know was that tokayami was already in town. His parents didn't bother to tell soka.

Tokayami grew quiet leaning against the door frame listening to what soka had to say Tokayami knew it was probaly a lie just to hurmor his little brother he listened anyway. "Hoyami and youi got in a big fuse over me hoyami and her friends shoved youi into the pool at school apparently. She had to wear gym clothes on the way home... Yesterday I'm sure she'll catch a cold and be needing me to come over and take good care of her. I mean I don't blame her She is obbesssed with me after all." Soka chucked. Tokayami could smell his evil bullshit through the phone.

That's not how youi would want to be treated.

Youi isn't a toy.

SHE'S MINE!!

Tokayami was not amused by the event's that he just heard about her. He was happy to be in her presence.

"I thought You should know baby brother youi just found out about her parent's passing so go easy on her when you see her in school." Tokayami hangs up the phone on his disturbed brother.

"tch dammit!" tokayami hiss at the thought of his brother breathing in youi's direction makes his stomacth turn.

Youi wake's up to a empty house and a blanket covering her the warmth of tokayami was no more. "toka?" she mumbled rubbing her eye's looking around the living room her eyes searched for him and stopped at the window. "oh" She reach's for the remote and turns the tv on the news was to depressing it plastered fake news about her parents even a car crash and played out rain for next week. Youi turned the channel to something more uplifting. And just wallowed. she heard foot steps entering the house. "your awake do you mind if I stay here for winter break I really don't want to be around my family right now." Tokayami voice's. Nervous about her answer.

Youi looked at him her eyes puffy from crying so much. "I don't mind we can go over there and grab your things after lunch if you like.Her voice craked. We'll have to bring a umbralle because the news say's it might rain." She try's to smile for him but it hurt to much inside.

Tokayami looked more upset but not at youi his slef over the sittuion she was placed in, No it was something else entirely. "youi if anything else is going on you know you can tell me you known me for a long time you we use to share secerts all the time remeber, S-So just come to me and I'll take care of it. our I can try to help." Tokayami affirm. Trying his best not to show how upset he was, Tokayami stood there infuriated.

"uh erm." youi stared. " okay toka come set with me. Will you?" she asked the tears pill up like bricks the weight kept climbing inside her chest.

He shoke his head garbing his shoes. "I have something to do today don't worry about picking up my things I'll just do it you just rest." Tokayami spoke leaveing youi griving alone in a house that was once filled with laughter and filled with silence.

"strange." she swalloed hard clinching the blanket close to her chest. Youi didn't question it though she knew how private he could be. Inculdeing since they haven't talked or been alone in awhile.

Later that day youi was found cleaning out her parents bedroom and putting away there thing's in box's a small ache an pain fleet across her chest as she examine over the room. She found an old picture of her mom and dad on there wedding day bringing it towards her chest squeezeing it tight. She mummbled softly "I miss you so much"

The door bell ring whilst youi was breaking inside she placed the picture down on the night stand sha toke one last glimpse at the room and how full it used to be and how bare it is now filled with boxes and empty space nothing but a night stand with her parents photo antic light youi reached to turn it off but couldn't. Youi walked towards the door peekoing out the peephole at who was there.

Tokayami has a key he would just come in.

Youi cracked the door for her on safety. "yes how may I help you?" wiping her face with some tissue. "Can we talk?" Soka said plainly.

"Right now isn't a good time for me soka." she respond clearing her throat. Closeing the door locking it feeling herself remeber every detil of what happened at the party.

"Mom I need you." Tears pour out of youi's eyes. Her back pressed up against the door she squeezed in her knees and start to ball her eyes out even more. Curling up on the floor youi felt it the coldness. And then she heard him.

"Soka what are you doing here?" Glaring at his little brother in anger. Tokayami pulled at his bags trailing up towards the house he stops at the doorway. "I-I um came to apologize to youi about yesterday." Soka said nervously.

Tokayami loomed over his brother. "Move." He told him Tokayami placed his things to the side unlocking the door. Youi heard the click moving to her feet she watched as the door opend. Tokayami placed his things inside.

"Could you tell her I'm sorry and if she need's anything I'm here for her and-" Soka's words was cut off by his on brother. "Soka when she's ready to forgive you, that's when you tell her. Until then give her and me some space." Tokayami closed the door in anger not until he was startled by youi right behind him.

"Make sure you lock the door." Tokayami was irraited with his brother he couldn't take it out on youi. "I don't mean to come between you and your brother you two used to be so close." garbbing his things for him. Tokayami placed his hand upon the bag. " I can do this myself just relax I don't mean to come off rude or harsh just would like to get things put away first." Tokayami picked up his things carrying them to the guest room. "you aren't coming between anything and me and my brother are close but there are some things you just don't do to a person. An then there are things you do, do for a person." Tokayami whispered leaning in taking off his shoes gazeing at her.

"lets have take out tonight." Tokayami says. Walking away from her.

Youi noticed some blood on the bottom of his shirt small and tiny. "Wait toka are you okay there's blood on your shirt?" she grew concernd. Touching his shirt softly.

Tokayami paused at the door way of the guest room placing his thing's down inside.

she doesn't know anything? It's only blood.

I HAVE TO LIE.

"yeah I cut myself while I was working on a project." Taking the shirt off tokayami looked at youi "Here could you wash it out for me youi?" His lusty abs darwn her in she bit her lip her mind disappers towards him and wonders down towards his V line. "youi?" he calls out her name once more.

"huh?" she spoke softly trying to shake it off. Tokayami shakes his shirt a bit. "Could you wash it for me so I can unpack and Oder us some take out?" With one hand on door knob tokayami licks his lips. "um yeah." youi grabs his shirt walking backwards takeing in every inch. "I'm just going to go do that.." still stareing she mumbled to herself. Tokayami stood there with a smirk on his face. "watch out for.." Tokayami try's to warn her about the wall but it was to late. She looks back at tokayami as he brushed back his hair.

Happy coincidence.

She forgot all about the blood.

Youi placed his shirt in the washer machine and notice a basket of her parents clothes and her's as well she picks up her mom shirt an smell's it " I miss you." looks at her basket "why not." she begin to fold up her clothes glossing over things in the laundry room holding a folded up towel in one hand she walking around the house glossing over it all.

Maybe I can make it feel more like mine. She thought to herself.

Placing a towel on the counter. Her foot steps rung through out the house while she went up the stairs into her parents room. Rummaging through old photos.

I could lock this room up and put up some of mom and dads photos. More and more ideas crossed her mind.

"TOKAYAMI!" Youi yelled out. In a rush he ran up stairs to her aid.

"yeah what's wrong?" Out of breath he stare at youi not seeing a scratch on her. Tokayami scanned the room. "Could you carry this box down stairs and place it in the living room. Oh and once I'm done in here could you lock the door." Youi asked him politely.

He looked at her confused. "With you in it?" Trying to get a better understanding of what she's doing Tokayami looked at her in hope's that she was okay.

But apart of him didn't mind the idea. Her in this room empty.

Youi would be all his at last.

"No silly I'm going to re-do a few thing's is all." Youi smiled placing the few boxes that was left in the closet. Watching tokayami come up and down the stairs he listened in as Youi mumbled where and how she liked to place the things in the living room and kitchen possibly every other area in the house. Youi finish's up garbing the door knob and closing it.

"Did you call the morgue yet youi?" Tokayami asked before locking her parents room door.

"So whats for dinner toka?" she asked with a big smile on her face. "hurry up an lock that door so you can Oder I'm starving. Youi ignored his question, and insted went down stairs looking at the living room tokayami had already placed the pictures up on the walls even set up the table how she planed he even, made a shirin for youi mom an dad. So she can pay her respects once youi recvied there ashes.

Maybe I should call the morgue so I can go pick up there ashes.

That made the third time. Youi felt alone.

Tokayami foot steps breamed as he came down stairs Youi turned around. "I ordered us Pork belly and the dinner special, Dont worry I made sure they added extra fried rice and I-" Tokayami was taken aback when he saw youi crying and looking directly at him.

"What happened? Are you hurt, what is wrong?" Tokayami was confused and didn't now what to do.

"thank you toka for everything I know I'm asking for so much I don't mean to, your just perfect right now." She looked up at him. Tokayami approached her slowly nervous if he touched her she might break down crying even more like a dam. Youi clutched at his fresh t-shirt he had put on." Just let it all out youi I'm not going anywhere. Well I'll have to get the food." Tokayami held her close whispered to her. "You know the place doesn't look that bad." Tokayami rubbed her back as she cried more.

Great I broke her.

Is this my fault she is like this. I wish there was more I could do other then being a tissue.

The door bell ringed.

"well that's the door youi." he went to the door and open it the delivery man chuckled a bit. Seeing the both of them in the state they was in. Youi didn't let go of him and Tokayami didn't mind. "okay the food is here." tokayami sets on the floor looking down at her. "Aren't you going to eat." he asks her gazing into her eyes. "yeah. Think you for the food." she say's thankfully. Her phone buzzed. Message appear upon the screen. It was soka. The phone was facing upward on the dinning table Tokayami got a little peek.

"what dose he want?" Tokayami rolled his eye's asking with so much built up aggression towards his brother. "I don't know why?, why dont you check an see I really don't feel like talking to anybody." Youi replied eating her food slowly. She felt completely safe around tokayami his been there an not once has he called her stupid or an idot. Not once has he told her she need to be normal.

Tokayami garbed her phone and tapped on it. "I don't know your password." Tokayami lied.

She has to trust me.

I want her to think and feel safe around me NOT MY INSANE BORTHER!

Soka<3 : I'm sorry for everything honestly. I am. If there is anything I can do Please let me know.

The message read out with nothing but a apology Youi kept eating her food. Not knowing what was said. "Do you want to know what he said youi." Tokayami asked analyzing the message.

Soka<3 : Can I come over so we can talk it out?

Youi shook her head no.

"Are you sure you don't want to know what his saying?"

Tokayami asked her just to be positive. "Not only do I not want to know but I like it if you delete the messages." Getting up from the table. Youi place her plate in the trash and then started on the pile of dish's in the sink.

Tokayami looked back down at her phone.

You lose this round little brother. Tokayami gave a little smrik moving his fingers on her phone.

Youi : This is tokayami she doesn't want to be bothered right now:

Sending the message he watch's and wait's for him to open it, he then delete's all them.

Sweet relief leaves his body as tokayami get's closer and closer to youi.

Youi finish's up the few dish's that was in sink. Tokayami slid her phone into her back pocket.

"so about tomorrow?" easing one hand on to her hip. laying his head on her shoulder.

"your really close toka." she said softly her hands soapy from washing the dish's. "At least let me dry my hands off before you start teasing me." youi said annoyed.

Tokayami chuckled. "youi who said I was teasing you" He mumbled his breath softly touching her bronze skin.

"Tokayami?" what is he trying to do exactly?

I final feel good around him.

Tokayami moved his hands towards her stomach and wiggles them softly. Youi laughs out loud. " Toka stop!" Pushing back with her wet hands. She look's at him a bit scared of what he might do next. "Oh now you done it." youi laughs, his shirt and face soapy from dish water.

she runs into the living room laughing and giggling.

Soka watched from the window at how much happier she seemed with tokayami he stood there seeing the person that once loved, no wanted more with him. laugh and giggle with his older brother an not him.

Tokayami held youi by the waist. "gotcha!" she laughed even more. Tokayami looked out the window seeing his brother watching them both.

"toka no more I give up!" youi yelled happily. Letting her go tokayami closed the shade's and turned on the lamp.

She will be mine.

Yes She will be mine.

YOUI WILL BE MINE! NO ONE ELSE CAN HAVE HER!!

Youi laid on the floor with a huge smile on her face. And no notion in the world what she has gotten herself into.

Chapter Two

An hour to long.

The next moring Tokayami hid his red book up underneth the bed he then turns to the boxes by the closet door an being to unbox some things in the guest room making hislef more at home. He mumbled to his self as he placed things around the room.

"Forever maybe. Forever maybe, Forever maybe." His eye's grew wide tokayami picked up

a flora jacket with a stitched initial inside the hoodie 'YK' Tokayami press the cotton

flora clothing to his face breathing in the scenet his eye's role to the back of his head in satisfaction.

He whimper's salive gloss over his lip's. "Youi" he moaned softly.

Clinking sound comes from the kitchen. "OH SHIT!" youi yells could be heard through out the

house. Tokayami snapped out of it putting away the jacket he slide some clothes on.

Rushing to the kitchen. "What's going on youi?" Tokayami asked.

Looking around the room. "I need to go to the doctor." Youi explained holding out her bronze hand a slight cut was hitch in the cress of her palm.

Tokayami smiled a bit in relief. "Youi its not that bad we can patch that right up. Why dont you go set down on the couch." Tokayami garbed the first aid kit. Glareing at her hand. "Here let me just warp that up for you." Tokayami held youi's hand watching as the blood rolled down her wrist.

Tokayami detained his-slef from leaning in and licking her hand. "Toka are you okay?" Youi asked noticeing how spaced out he was. She watched as he warped her hand up. "uh yeah I'm fine."

When she isn't looking he stuff a bloody tissue into his pocket after he cleaned up everything. Tokayami slowly made his way down the hall with the tissue in his pocket.

"Toka where are you going?" He looked back Youi stared down the hall. His eyes looking through her.

"I need to put something away. I'll be right back. Promise."

Youi smiled at this unbotherd by his wired stare and stance she picked up a few things in the living room placing her parent's ash's on the memorial table. Tears begin to fall. "I miss you."

she whispered.

Memory's of her mom and dad holding her cheek's and squishing her close in there arm's a odar of cologne fierce aroma of her moms sweet tarts and home made fired rice made Youi gush and cry more holding there picture's closer to her chest.

"I'm going out for a bit Youi do you need me to get you anything?" Tokayami asked placing his shoes on not realizing how miserable youi was not noticing what her parents death was doing to her mind tokayami asked her once again.

"Youi do you want anything I'm going out?!" this time he was getting a bit upset and for what because she wasn't answering or because she wasn't listening.

Why, Was tokayami getting so upset by something so small. He was just asking a question. It wasn't a big deal.

Clinching his fist. Tokayami walked around the corner and saw her crying her eyes out silently.

His angar was deter his eyes lit up by the sight of her on her knees his heart pond tokayami's eyes glossed over seeing her crying was like a needle to his heart his blood boiled at the same time he wanted to just hold her.

Don't cry.

Youi It's going to be okay I'm right here.

LOOK AT ME!!

"Youi Is everything okay? Was it me? " Tokayami asked out of the blue reaching out to touch her slowly.

Falling to his knees beside her. "Oh no toka your perfect you done nothing." she sobbed in his arms with thoughts of her mother and father on her mind.

"Was going to go out Youi did you need anything?" This time he asked in a softer tone rubbing her shoulder. She looked into his eyes. He wiped away her tears. "Your going to leave me alone?" she asked him.

"Only be an hour youi I'll be right back promise." Getting up from her side.

"Well could you grab us some more of those small tiny cookies." she asked of him watching as he walk-d away. "while I'm gone try not to be hard on yourself. " Tokayami spoke in a soft tone. Closing the door locking it behind him.

He wasn't sure what would happen with in the next hour but he had an idea.

Tokayami looks through the books at the store noticing a figure walking across the sidewalk, white short hair and blue jean short's. "no it couldn't be." He mumbled to his self. Tokayami knocked on the window pressing his face against the glass. The suspicious person turnt around looking straight at tokayami.

"Toka?" they said in a light hearted voice. Moving there short thin white hair from there face. Tokayami smiled a bit garbing the things he needed catching up with the white haired female.

"Well I should get going then my brother is waiting for me." She spoke happily, waving goodbye to Tokayami. " He checked his phone curiosity running through his mind.

Wonder how things are at youi's?

Soka began to pace back and forth in his bed room tapping his phone agisnt his chin. Thought's curdle and rattle through his mind like bob ware. He couldn't stop the noise the sound was driving him nuts.

The expression upon her face was priceless.

It was like watching my on porno but with out the climax.

The sound kept getting louder and louder. Soka couldn't pin point it he kept walking back and forth from his door to the window. Tap. Tap. Tapping his phone upon his chin.

The clicking sound of his clock the humming noise of his humidifyer. Dim lit desk in the far left corner of his bedroom. His room was his cave. He kept the light's off but not the one on his desk. Soka felt the Scratching sound stop in hushed tones a light bulbe went off.

Yes. "YEs!" Why don't we just take a peek in the window It couldn't hurt none.

Besides Youi has to let me inside at some point.

Soka garbed his jacket placing his cell phone in his left pocket. "Mom DAD I will be back!" he yelled rushing out the front door.

Not looking back he placed his shoe's on.

"where are you going?" soka mom asked whipping her hands off with a towel. Soka looked at her with tender eyes. "No worry's mother I will be back soon!"

She shrugged her shoulder's at his word's. Soka left walking towards youi's house with an mindset that tokayami will be there waiting for him.

But he didn't care all he cared about was Youi and seeing that horrid expression one more time. His head pounding loud once more the scratching and raking pressed against the walls of his skull. Made it unbearable to think clearly.

"Soka wait up!" A formaler voice?

He turn's around to see the two girls that bullied youi one being Hyoami.

She ran a fan club called [we love soka] they didn't do anything much but talk and discuss thing's that involve Soka's daily life.

"Hey soka where are you going?" hyoami asked excited. Her smile was bright and cheerful as if cupcakes had a baby. "I'm going to see a friend. You two might remember her." soka spoke calm the noise still scratching, it danced inside of him.

"Oh her why?" hyoami asked.

"yeah I thought you was already dating someone?"The other girl asked as if she was trying to hint something.

Soka started to get aggravated,not at hisself he had time to play along. It couldn't hurt.

"Right I am but Youi is just my friend. She has been since forever." Soka watched them both.

"Then It's okay if YOUR girlfriend comes along with you." the other girl asked. soka could see what she was doing.

"no not this time see she only need's her friend's company she just lost her parent's why would I want to bring people she don't know youi can be very put off besides she is in a vulnerable sate." Soka lied not knowing how youi felt.

"I understand that." Hyoami took aback looking at her shoes blushing a bit.

"That's a good girlfriend." He pats both of them on the shoulder. And walks away waving his hand. "You two should try and get home It's not safe."

That was a bit of a let down Soka looked over into the window the blinds was still closed.

" Typical." He mubbed to himself. As if tokayami new Soka was going to come over. Soka approached the door. His body trembling with excitement.

What if she rejects me againg I can't take that.

Maybe she'll show off her timed expression like at the party.

I wonder. I wonder. I WONDER!

Soka knocked on the door. An waited.

Youi open the door. "I don't want to talk to you." she mutter.

Soka stare's at her. "youi I was wondering If we could talk?" soka asked handing over a apology in a hand basket his expression was filled with lies and deceit.

I have to try to get inside before tokayami sees me talking to her. "no soka It's fine I just want to be alone." closing the door on his face and locking it.

Youi felt alone once aging the emptiness filled the house.

"Youi please open up I just want to talk to you?" soka asked beating on her door.

Soka was still at her door. And that alone triggered a alarm in her mind of that night at the party.

"YOOUUUIII OPEN THIS fucking door DAMMIT!!" he yells the scratching and pilling nail feeling his blood boiling the realing sound in his mind filled him up. Soka licked his lips softly remerbering every face expression youi made through out childhood up until now.

"open the door youi let me see your face I need to see it please." He laugh's .

Youi cover her ears running behind the couch. "mom dad Help me." she yelp's under her breath.

It get's quite.

Youi didn't dare move she was to scared, to confused she was crying and shaking, humming to herself.

"Don't leave me." youi pressed her lips toghter closing her eye's. "Please toka" her eyes grew heavy right there behind the couch she fell asleep feeling safe in hopes he will find her.

Soka Finally gave up, looking around her house in search for a way to get inside was his next step. His brother was clever. He couldn't get into the backyard without a gate code.

The windows can't be broken in to. "when did he have time do any of this. It's pissing me off." soka groaned standing there looking aback at her house. " there is always school." soka smiled inside. As If he has the upper hand.

Tokayami finally get's home from a long eventful day. "I'm back I brought.." tokayami takes his shoes off and place his things on the table. "Youi?" looking around the room.

Where did she go? he wonder. "Youi where are you?" he asked out loud but nothing. Running upstairs to her room tokayami opens the door. "I'm coming in."

Nothing but her things. An a clean bed. "no did she? could she be?" tokayami assumed the worst.

Rushing downstairs into his room. Nothing but his things. He began to hear a sound clear but faint snores an hums from the living room.

"Youi?" he grew confused. looking under the table. then behind the curtains noticing wood chips on the stoop of the porch tokayami turned around seeing feet peeking out-of the side of the couch. "huh?" tokayami moves the couch to find youi asleep.

"youi..Are you okay?" he get's closer reaching his hand towards her body. Youi moves around a bit her eyes open slow. "Toka?" rubbing her eye lids. "your okay." The feeling of relief over comes him. "TOKA!" her eyes feel up her body shacks she leaps an warps her arms around his neck he falls upon her. "Y-Youi your shaking are you okay?" tokayami asked concerd.

"Soka.." looking at him youi hummed softly between her lips. Tokayami then begging to put everything togahter wired feeling in the house the door being scrathed an banged up her hiding behind the couch. " come on get up youi let's get some food inside you and you can tell me all about it." Tokayami picked her up setting her on the couch, he then moved thus couch back in place.

"toka I'm not that hunger anymore." she balled up reaching for the remote.

Tokayami place a bag of take out on the table. Not pushing anything. "fine then I will talk instead. I ran into a old friend at the book store today." toakaymi broke apart his chop sticks opening up his food placed in front of him. Youi looks at him more watching as he picks up his first bite she catch's a glimpse of it.

"I can't believe you have a tongue ring toka." she mutterd looking at the tv. Tokayami was taking aback by her words he didn't know how to react so he continued to eat his food in peace. "You aren't going to finish your story I was a bit interested." youi looked at him. she was curled up in a blanket on the couch with the remote snuggled in tightly in the couch her hair was a bit puffy then usually. Youi would pick it out on most occasion's but tokayami could tell she's been feeling down by how much care she puts into her looks alone.

"toka your stareing?" she said.

"A-Am I? Sorry." He didn't notice. He couldn't tell. she was so gorgeous the way the sun was setting the light hitting her eyes sparkled while she watched one of many of her once family favorite.

To tokayami surprise.

"Your not crying." tokayami noticed and blurted out with out thinking.

"I guess your right toka I'm not." youi said with a light smile on her face.

I wonder what she's thinking.

Should I tell her about the rest of my day?

This moment this moment. It's perfect she's perfect.

Youi sat up slowly watching tokayami eat his food like a child. "Cute." she says to herslef.

He mad a face and licked his tongue out at her they both laughed. Youi's face grew grim an fearful as if she saw a ghost.

"Toka" She spoke her voice shook. Tokayami put his chopsticks down taking a sip of his sprite.

"T-Toka I don't want your bother to come over here no more ever." her eyes glimmered he could tell she was scared.

But of what?

" ever aging." youi said once more waiting for him to respond. His heart skipped a beat looking into her eye's. Tokayami felt it all of it the soft sweet sound hummed throughout his mind.

"Youi what happened? You ca-" Tokayami was cut off by her words.

"Just promise me you won't leave me and he will never harm us." she teared up a bit her body shacking. Tokayami nodded agreeing motioning for her to set with him and try to eat something.

The event's of today was to much for her they played over and over aging like a horror film that wouldn't stop. Luckily Tokayami was there to reassure her hold her be able to understand everything that is Youi.

The next moring Tokayami decided to go visits his family he intended on taking youi with him but he new everything that's happened and seeing soka would just bring back the pain tokayami saw in her eye's the fear an ache for someone to be there for her.

This is something he understood very well.

He couldn't an won't have her feeling that way.

" Mom dad I'm home." he yelled out taking his shoe's off walking into the livinig room with his hands in his pockets tokayami looks around the room.

"How is youi and her folks doing?" his dad asked. Tokayami sat on the floor with his phone in one hand messaging youi about his where about.

"There dead." tokayami answered. His father shocked by this information put's his paper down. "W-Wha-" Toakyami interrupts.

"Car accident I belive, it was on the news I'm sure mom told you about it. Youi hasn't left the house since her parents died." Tokayami looked up from his phone feeling the room change once his brother and mom came in the room.

"What's this I hear about Youi and soka not getting along toka?" bringing in some fresh crackers and tea setting them on the table in front of everyone.

Tokayami perched his slef upon the the table glancing at his mom and back at his dad. "Didn't you ask soka mother what happened at his birthday party. " tokayami glared at his little brother feeling the tention build between them both.

"Oh What happened dear?" his mother asked.

"Well mother youi told me-" Tokayami began to speak but his brother chimed in.

"mother why should it matter. What is it your always telling us. Leave the past in the past and look to the future." soka smiled lightly, his mom fierce glare was frowned upon tokayami.

"I see." she mumbles to soka. There dad picks up the paper ignoring them all.

"I wanted to come by and tell you guy's that youi said hello mom dad." tokayami say.

Soka looked at him filled with wonder. "when can we visit her?" Soka toke a sip of his tea after asking.

"I'm not sure about you. But mom and dad can visit any time." He said with no hesitation looking directly at his brother his eyes grew wide with the words written deep with in them.

She doesn't want you!

"BOYS STOP IT!" there mother yelled. "tokayami apologize to your brother this second." she ordered.

Placing his cup on the table taking a stand looking at his father. "see you around." His father nodded in response tokayami place his hands in his pockets going towards the door to place his shoes on.

"TOKAYAMI GET BACK HERE!" his mother yelled. His brother watching clinching his teeth togahter.

Wishing waiting knowing youi is somthing...somthing. And there it was againg the loud scratching yelling noise in his head. Soka held his mother's hand.

"It's fine let it go."soka said. Tokayami was gone out the door.

Chapter three

Hasana!

"Soka get away from there this mintue!" His mom cried out. Griping his wrist yanking at him his body jerked as his mom pulled him along side her.

"Did you see it mommy the bird fell from the tree." His tone animated his eyes where lit up.

"Soka sweetheart the bird it's..its..Well it's.." His mom hesitated.

His head norrowed down toward his feet he felt her judgement peering through him.

"S-Soka dear." His mom spoke.

"Let's just go home." He hummed gazeing at his hands.

The brid laid there lifeless on the ground. Soka poked at it's body gaping over it.

"poor thing must have fell out of it's nest." Tokayami said.

"Yes poor frigle thing." Soka kept pokeing at it over and over again. "Well should we burry it?" Tokayami asked standing beside his brother watching as he poke at the lifeless animal.

Soka deem up at tokayami with vexation peering through him. With pure consideration tokayami glared back at him tilting his haed abit.

"why big brother, what would I want to do that?" Soka spoke with irritation and displrsure for his brother's niave innocent's.

Soka then picked up the dead brid.

"Soka get away from there this mintue!" his mom yelled out.

Tokayami watched as she dragged him away. Without giveing him one look one glance one glimer of attieon.

Soka looked at his Big brother with a gleeful smlie norrwing his head at his feet.

What was this feeling?

Why did it feel nice? Soka needed answer's. And he new just how to get them.

"Hey! Toka come on!" Her long white hair blew with the wind. Her eyes sparkled in the light. She was in the same grade as Tokayami. At the time her parents lived in town next door to youi.

"Just a minute!." He yelled back burrying the bird. Tokayami pressed his hands togahter closed his eyes. "Rest in peace."

"What are you doing?" With a wide smile she asked him.

"I'm burrying a brid my brother didn't think to, but I belive It should be with it's family." Tokayami answerd the young lady.

"You have a big heart toka." she beamed form ear to ear.

"Thank you Hasana." Tokayami held her hand lightly affired he might break her.

Hasana had a twin sister with short white hair. They both was fond of Tokayami, But not so much of Soka.

Hasana and Tokayami walked back to his house. Dragging a stick along side the bobwire fence. Tokayami hummed to himself.

"Do you think youi will be there as well?" Hasana asked.

"I-I don't know." Tokayami turned red at her qusteion. She smiled nowing exctaly how to get to him hasana watched his face expersion. "I wonder maybe she might have brought over some of her mom's cookie's or muffins those are my favorite." Hasana smiled with joy as she spoke those word's.

"Let's race hasana!" He droped his stick and sprinted off with out warning looking behind him he made sure she was right behind him. Giggles field the evening air as they both ran to there destanation.

"Son? hasana?" With a smile on his face Tokayami dad spoke.

They both looked up at him. "Hey dad." Tokayami said trying to catch his breath.

Right there at his front door was youi giving tokayami's mom a bowl with plastic covering.

"Mom said you can keep the bowl as well. I better be off." She waved goodbye. Turning on the heel of her shoe her pigtails bounced and brown eyes sparkled.

Tokayami cheeks trunt a bright red at the sight of her.

Hasana laughed a bit.

"Hey guy's." youi spoke.

"H-Hi Youi." Tokayami murmured.

"Aren't you going to stay a while?" Hasana asked.

"No my cousin's are over. My mom just wanted me to drop that off. I'll talk to you guy's later." Youi waved bye skipping back home her small hands slide into her pockets her shoes had sparkles on them and lit up with ever skip. She hummed all the way back down the street.

"Your stearing toka." Hasana glared at him. Tokayami puffed his cheeks out and crossed his arms. "I belive that's enough exctiment for one day. Lets go inside you two." his dad spoke.

With a light nudge to his back and a slight tug at hasana shirt Tokayami placed his shoes by the door just as everyone did.

"Soka! Mom! Hasana is here!"He smiled at the sound of his bothers laughter and the smell of his moms cooking could never comper to youi's.

"We're in here Tokayami!" Soka yelled.

Tokayami rememberd the glare his bother gave him back at the play ground was it becasue the bird was dead or because he couldn't give it a porper burial?

What ever the case Tokayami saw a side of Soka that was brand new to him.

"Look big brother our favortie show is on." Soka pointed to the tv jumping in his set in exctiment. Hasana peeks her head from the side. "Soka." Displeased with his presence she licks her tonge out at him.

"Hasana. Big brother why is she here?" soka asked.

"She wanted to see youi." Tokayami answerd roboticly his eyes glued to the tv.

"hmm I don't like you either soka." Hasana mubbled under her bereath pressing her arms againts her chest in a kris cross manner.

"Play nice." Dad spoke looking at his paper.

"Hasana I will walk you home after dinner." Tokayami looked at her. Hasana nodded.

Soka got up gliding his way towards his mom. "I don't mind seatting the table for you mom." soka said.

"okay." she didn't even look at him.

"Kids go wish your hand's and get ready to eat dinner." Soka and Tokayami mother said in a soft tone. She began to set the food onto the table faimly style. Whiping her hands upon her apron.

Hasana smiled at tokayami placeing her hands behind her back. "Why are you glareing at me like that?" he asked her.

"Because I know your secert." hasana spoke holding her tiny finger over her lips.

"Oh y-yeah..you do?" hestatin tokayami whips his hands on the towel. His face flushed red.

Soka standing outside of the bathroom listening to every word hasana spoke. Gaping at his feet the feeling he had started to creep up inside him once again.

"I see the way you look at her." hasana smiled more pokeing his arm. She found it funny but cute.

"hey stop it." Tokayami let's out a little giggle. She flicks water on to him.

" Don't deny it your in love with her!" Hasana says making a heart with her wet soapy finger's she rolls her eyes and dose a little twril.

Soka peeking his head inside watching them in distaste.

"KIDS COME EAT!" his mom calls out.

Hasana giggle's a bit running out the bathroom soka held his foot out slightly knowing exctualty what would come next.

"hasana!" Tokayami yelled.

She trip's her laughter fade's her smile disapper's.

"kid's what happend?" There mom asked.

That was the first time Tokayami saw hasana cry. And the first time he saw his mother look down on him with those eye's.

"Mother Tokayami did!" Soka said balmlessly point his finger at his bother. Soka's eyes teared up as he huged the hem of her skirt.

There mother looked down at Tokayami at that moment he felt it but didn't know what it was nor understood it.

After dinner Hasana sat in the ketcihen with a ice pack on her knee. While mother called her big brother to stop by and pick her up he was only 16 there parent's was alaways busy on friday's.

"OKay hasana your bother will be right over to come get you, just set right here okay." There mom patted her head and sat in the living room waching her show's.

"H-hasana." Tokayami hesitated. Fearing the most. He was to afired to tickle her. Hold her hand. Be close to her like before. Tokayami didn't understand what was happening to his brother and why he felt so afired at that moment.

She smiled looking at him. She held out her hand happyliy.

"Can I ask you somthing toka?" hasana asked.

He nodded holding her hand. "Do you hate your borther?" she staered at him.

Tokayami was never awear of any actions he was giving off about his reatilonship with his sibling.

" Why do you ask?" He looks at her with wonder in his eyes. "Because his always looking at you. like right now." hasana spoke. Tokayami looked over his shoulder and saw his brother peering through him.

Tokayami chuckled a bit. "Dosen't mean he hates me or I him." he replyed back. Looking back at her.

"toka..Then why did he trip me?" hasana asked.

Tokayami didn't know what to say to that. He belived he was to blame for it all. Tokayami thought back to the bird at the park.

"His not mean to youi?" Tokayami spoke looking at hasana for reasuerance.

She only looked down at her knee and mubbled to her self.

The doorbell ringed. soka answerd it.

Footstep's traveled through the house getting louder and louder. "sana!" kona yelled out.

"I'm okay toka rescued me from the evil soka." she kicked her legs with excitement to see her twin sister. " ow ow" hasana srucnthed up her face as she held the ice pack to her knee. Kona looked at Soka likcking her tounge out at him.

"HASANA! KONA! LET'S GO!" There big brother yelled out.

The twins waved bye as Soka rolled his eyes and licked his tonge out at hasana.

Hasana came back by but this time youi was with her.

"Hey guys I brought a friend." hasana smiled big.

They boys looked at eachother confused. When they saw her they both blushed.

"hey tokayami. hi soka." Youi said softly. Spring break was almost over with kona in trouble for throughing water on the cat that day. And Tokayami and soka's dad being busy that day plans was changed for both house holds. Not for youi she was always home alone but not during spring break or winter holiday's.

"Let's go to the playground you guy's!" hasana grabed Soka's hand pulling him along leaveing youi and Tokayami behind. " Hey let me go you witch!!" Soka yelled out.

"how's your break been youi?" Tokayami asked her his face flushed red. She looks at him with a huge smile on her face. " Great I got to see all my faimly and I even went down to the aquarium." she glimed at the thouht of the ocean creatures.

"what about you?"she bloomed with delight and intreast in her eyes Tokayami locked eyes with her opeing his mouth to answer being enterupterd by the scerthing and crashing sound of car's.

They look at eachother both there heart's droped. Two lives where in there hands that day.

"SOKA!" Tokayami yells.

"HASANA!" Youi screamed.

Chapter four

Alone

"I'm back." with a big smile on his face tokayami looked around the corner. " Wonder where she went to?" placing some thing's down on the coffee tabel. "Toka I thought you was going to be at your parents house today?"

youi asked nervousley she was hiding something and tokayami was eger to find out what.

"I told soka you didnt want him around." he watched her movements. "what actually happend at the party youi?" curosity arosue.

Youi started to realx a bit feeling he might know the truth already.

"let's oder some food first." she spoke. Tokayami calls up the pizza palce four streets down. And countuions to wait for her answer.

The food arrives. "Thank you. tokayami gave the dilvery driver a tip. "OKay we have food we have drinks and we have the music." tokayami spoke looking at youi.

Youi was already taking bits out of her pepperion and bacon bbq pizza. she looked at him dumbfounded a bit. "swallow your food silly girl." he smiles whiping her face.

"I won't perssuer you in to telling me what happend at the party if my brother did somthing or someone you went to school with said anything to hurt your feelings it's alright to talk about it." tokayami spoke calmly taking his first slice of pizza he closed his eyes and listeind to the music.

youi was speechless from hearing his words of kindness.

Its been so long since me and tokayami been alone like this every since.

Youi eyes start to water she whips them looking over the pizza. An back at him.

" I'm happy your here with me toka." she smiled happyliy. Tokayami was taken aback by this. "Sure." his face truned red just like when he was a kid.

"I meant to tell you I ran into a old friend of ours during my outing the other day." his face went grim.

"oh yeah." youi spoke wondering who it was.

"yeah it was nice seeing them aging." he smiled a bit hideing his pain.

"toka.." she mumbled his name pasueing for a second a feeling of comfort over comes her.

He looks at her with a mouth full of his chesse pizza.

"Before the party some girls at school they call themselevs [we lve soka] fan club. They had been bullying me and calling me names all because soka hangs out with me or texts me. Well that afternoon i went into the bathroom they was waiting for me. That's kinda how i had my arm wraped up..." she couldnt look him in the eyes.

he swallowed his food listening to every word.

" once the nurse was gone i left and went home and cried..."

rubbing her hands toghter. " the next day I was already not feeling well so I just rested a while until the party once i got up and got ready and left to your house everyone was there and your bother had already cut the cake I thought if i stayed out the way no one will notice me.."

struggleing to countie tokayami was looking down at his hands.

"...I heard whispers near by corner when i truned around it was the same girls. I tried to find soka but they followed me toward the backyard. Thats when he saw me, He asked what was going on and why no one was enjoying the party.

I asked him to call off his girlfriend. He must not have heard me. one girl asked soka If this wiredo begin me was bother him. i never harmed him in anyway. His girlfriend then spit in my cup and asked me to leave. I went to the bathroom upstairs and thats when it happend your bother banged at the door so I climed out the window an ran to or childhood hideing spot. "

Tokaymi got up and sat beside her seeing the pour hate she has in her eye's it was liberating for him to see her so worked up. "tell me youi do you hate those girls for what they did to you?" tokayami asked in a calm soothing voice rubbing her back. she nodded her head slowly feeling comfortable enough to be honest with him.

They have known eachother since they where kid's. Youi thought to herself.

"thats fine I hate someone to it's normal." tokayami spoke trying to reassuer her.

Youi began to calm down he held her close in his arms was the only place that made her feel a bit more safe.

Tokayami looked over her sleeping body. Picking her up an placing her onto the couch. he proceed to whisper in her ear. " I'll take care of it." kissing her on the forehead tokayami went into his room and grabed a few things from under his bed. putting them into a bag. "I'm this close. You won't ruin this for me." he mubbled.

Taking slow steps up the stairs into her room. opening her school bag. He looked behind her book shelf. Then opend her window then closed it.

"You won't mess this up for me." he groned. Closeing the door to her room. Heading back down strais.

To set on the floor waiting for her to wake up. Rubbing her eye's carefully looking over the room "Toka?" she mumbled smacking her lips youi throt was dry face was oily.

"Toka." she spoke looking around the room. Taking a step toward's the kitchen. Snore's and humms coming from the living room in front of the televison. She takes a sip from the glass.

"Tokayami." She looked over his slumbering body. She never seen him in such a handsome light before the television light beemed over his face. "toka." youi's hand hoverd over him gently touching his hair. "so soft." mubbling under her breath. Not noticing his eyes watching her. "Youi ?" tokayami grab her wrist gently. "I did somthing but I need you not to get upset with me." he spoke.

She looked into his eye's. "I have a feeling soka is going to try to convice mom and dad to come over so I placed camra's inside your room with alarm trigger's."

tokayami covered his face perpering for the worst.

Youi sat there on the floor looking at him. "please say somthing youi." nervous tokayami watched her movment's.

Rembering the last time she was anger with him and how her eye's lit up when soka placed her favorite toy on a stick and burned it. Tokayami enjoyed the light in her eye's brighting up as she gave it to him that day her confidicne was higher then usally.

Youi looked over him. " Okay I trust you toka." she beamed a big smile his heart mealted a bit looking dirctalty at her.

"Do it again." he mubbmled.

youi tiltled her head. "what?"

"smile like that agian." He spoke demmaneding her to light up his world with just a smile. sitting up stright he looked into her eyes and waited.

Youi laughed at his reaction her smile was much brighter then before tokayami blushed red gazeing into it his heart beamed . warping his hands around her. "I will portce you from my brother I promise youi." tokayami exclamied.

She held him close in shock of his word's. "tokayami will you walk me to school after spring break."

She asked her hands where shaking. "anything you ask youi." He looked at her.

Tokayami began to clean up the livling room as youi went upstairs to get ready for bed. He had a plan but in what way was he going to exacute it was the porblem. Tokayami didn't wanna see youi in any more pain then she's already been in this past few weeks. "maybe I should invite her over. " I keep contenplating about the matter.

" no they go to another school distrct from youi." doughts of his own spwie up. Once he was finshed tiddying things up tokayami paused for a brife second.

"couldn't help to ask?" making his way upstairs. He knocks on her door. "hold on a second."

youi voice ringed before opeing the door. "yes toka, did you need somthing?" she pondered staering at him.

"uh well um.." the question had left him he could smell the new shampoo she was useing that he had picked up from the store three streets over. Her bronze skin was glowing more then usally from the hot shower. Youi stud there in her PJ's waiting for him to speak up.

"was there somthing you needed toka?" she asked again.

"I-uh well yeah. There is something I wanted to ask you." He bit his lip looking dircitly into her eyes. "what is it then?" placing her hands upon her hips.

Tokayami could tell she was getting a bit impatient but she didn't wanna be rude.

"What where those girls names at the party do you have the address so I can talk to there parents?" with much concern in his tone he blantly asked with paper and pen ready.

"um ok but I don't belive they'll get involde." youi an soka was once close enough that he shared this type of information with eachother.

"here you go toka." she smiled whole heartedly closeing her room door. With this much infortion tokayami could now countine with his plan's. He then went into her attick looking for the floor plans to the house. Tokayami was making sure her school year would be the best year of her life. He cleaned up a few things while he was in the attick as well before he went to bed.

Tokayami woke up the next moring getting things ready to leave. "toka can I come in." youi knocked on the door asking for permisson to come in.

scrambling to get things tiddy real quick he approched his door to open it. "come in youi what is it you need?" he asked her watching her every move.

"here i wanted to give you this before you head out." she spoke softly to him giving him a trinkit for good luck that she found in her closet.

"oh thank you But I will only be gone for four day's It will fly by fast promise." tokayami gave her a big hug letting her go. She looks him in the eye an smiles. "Don't take to long." an with that said she walks out his room closeing the door behind her. The words lingerd for a moment as he stud there thinking to his self about it all an why he was doing it and what for. "His insane." He mummbled to himself.

In a blink of a eye he was gone and she was alone in her home her parent's rasied her in the home she grew up in, she knew the neighborhood well , tokayami and soka and the twins used to be so close. the box with the letter and paniting her mother and father had sent to her was hung up over the fireplace in the dinnig room. Youi was alone.

The big empty home she felt so alone.

With out him there.Locking the door and checking the windows.

She.

WAS.

ALONE.

"Why am I overracting tokayami made sure the palce was sucre." Taking in a deep breath she held up her phone. It was pretty late of crouse.

youi cleaned the house a bit before bed and made sure a few things was put away. Of crouse she left tokayami's dry cleaning outside his room door. she rembebred him telling her to never go inside unless his in there. "wonder what his hideing?" placing her hand on the knob. hesatin to turn it.

YOUI! I KNOW YOUR IN THERE! thuding againts the door startles her. youi truns all the lights out running upstairs to her room. "YOUI OPEN THE DOOR! I promise I just want to talk to you." more banging at the front door counited. Youi hide herslef under the blankets covering her ears with her hands. hoping he'll go away.

"YOUI" he yelled more waking the neighbors.

A voice echoed. "soka leave now before I call the cops."

"Who said that?" soka looked for the vocie.

"hear you dummy." tokayami had installed a video cam by the door.

"hello brother please leave before I call the cops on you." tokayami ask's once more.

"I'll be back." Soka looked into the camrea hitting the door and flicking the camra off before he walked off.

Tokayami toke time out to video call youi to make sure she was fine. The ringing of her phone made her nervous. Looking over the caller I.D a small relif came over her. She answerd.

"toka your bother was just here." youi excliamed.

He noitced how vulnerble she looked he saw all her sheild down.

"I can come back early if you need me to youi?" Tokayami asked her his voice craked

slightly by the question.

youi clucthed her cell phone in her hand. "No I'll be fine I promise." her bottom lip tucked

under her top she wasn't sure how much more she could take of soka's constant

harssment. And rather or not to get the police involed. "I'll see if I can make this trip quick and come back home as quickly as I can." tokayami spoke as if his been living with her all his life.

She couldn't tell if he was mad or aggrvatied by the thought of all that his brother is doing.

"Try and get some rest someone will be by tommorw to check on you." tokayami spoke.

Youi grew nervous by the thought of someone coming over her parents just recently

passed away. Tokayami is living with her and soka is trying to casuse harm towards her in every

possablie way. Youi felt alone with no one to relate towards in her situion.

Youi woke up to severl missed calls and unread message's from tokayami.

remindeing her to eat and take care of her self. It was the last message that cought her

eye.

Toka: I know you aren't awake yet but I just want to tell you that I'm here for you.

And I won't let anything hurt you. Even my brother. But like I said last night

someone is coming over to check on you. Take a wild guess I ran into them

not to long ago.

She was so good with hints but she did have a bit of a feeling who it might be.

Youi recalled him asking for those bullies address's and contact information.

"Tokayami what did you do." she toke a great big breath

emersing herslef face first into her pillows screaming.

"Maybe there just going to apologize" looking back at her cell phone.

The time was 10:00 in the moring. quickly made her way down stairs and made herslef

some berakfast truning on the tv youi laughed and ate, ate and laughed.

Enjoying her moment in silence looking over at her mother and father pictuer's.

She grew more and more uneasy. "I miss you both so much." youi spoke looking back

at the program on her televiosn.

TV: we interrupt this program to bring you some distrubing news 3 female students

have been missing they was last seen at a party with high school students.

Youi immidelty picked up her phone to call tokayami but it went stright to voicemail.

"DAMMIT-" she spoke.

TV: This is what they look like if you see them please contact your local athurites.

Silence beamed through out the house youi shut the tv off trying to wrap her mind around

what was just plasterd on her televsion.

Where they really missing? she ponder

Are they alright?

Maybe soka-

She shock the dark thought out of her mind. soka is a bully no less.

But he couldn't He wouldn't. Her hands soaped up from foam the dishes cling and clank

stacking them into the dishwasher. A hard knock forced upon the front door stardles her.

"It's just the door." youi says to herslef.

"I'm coming give me a mintue!" she yelled.

Chapter Five

A visitor.

Looking through the peep whole to see who it was youi barely reconzgines

the young girl. She opened the door. "YOUI IT"S BEEN SO LONG!" the young girl squealed

excitedly huging youi's kneck tightly. youi was still confused and unsure upon who she was. "Aren't you going to invite me in youi?" the young girl spoke.

"sure come on in." moving out the door frame so she could take her shoes off

at the door they both place some house slippers on.

"wow nothings changed much. Is it still there I wonder?" the young woman questioned making wondering eyes at the kitchein.

She made her way into the kitcehn and lifted up the rug by the sink. There was a small dent in the floor.

Youi remberd when Kona and soka got into a fight right in that area one summer.

Her eyes widen looking at the young girl. Her hair and uniforim. HOw big her eyes where and tiny her freckles have gotten. Youi was amazed by how much she had grown.

"KONA!" youi yells just as excited as kona was at the front door but maby more.

she turns around. "yeah is somthing wroung?" kona asked.

youi hugged her tightly squezzing. "I can't belive it's you." tears formed in her eye's

whilist hugging her. Kona laughed a bit. "You havn't changed one bit youi." she wraped

her hands around youi embraceing her in kindness.

"toka asked me to come by and check on you while his away." kona spoke up.

youi let her go looking at the stove ad back at the coffee maker and would you like some coffee? she asked kona.

Youi wasn't ready to tell kona about the living sistuation with her and tokayami just yet. She want's a chance to catch up first.

"He did-he..told me this moring he ran into somone and they will be stoping by I didn't

know it was you." youi said with excitment in her voice.

Kona looked over towards youi parents pictuers the secented sticks bsied them and flower vase filled with there favorites. kona toke a big notice of the cards an and small stuffed animal beside her moms pictuer, she walked over toward the small shrien and knelled down on both knees folding her hands togheter.

"Wish I could've seen you both one last time." kona spoke respctfully.

Youi poured the coffee and turning the stove off placeing two small tea cups on to a tray youi then poured the coffee into them. Placing the sugar and cream onto the tray. Kona brings the tray over to the licing room area slowly trying her best to not drop the tray.

"Youi dosen't have to be alone anymore." kona spoke looking at youi's parents photos. youi smiled greatfully teary eyed. Watching kona pay her respects youi placed a napkin in her lap grabing a bisciut and her coffee.

"would you like some coffee kona?" youi asked calmly holding her coffe.

She turned around looking at the tray on the table and the cup of coffee in youi's hands. "love some." they both smiled happyliy.

"just like old times before soka and tokayami came into our lives?" kona questioned placing the cup upon her lips.

youi looked into her eyes and saw her sadness. "Do you miss her?" her smile dropped as youi asked.

Kona nods her head taking another sip of her coffee. "A day dosen't go by that me and my big borther try to understand why or what would possess a person to run over a child." kona spoke

harshly her tone was high and fist was clinched she placed her cup on the table.

kona new it wasn't a accident she new the car didn't run over her sister the question remains.

Did youi know?

Anger and rage built up inside her kona fist clinch up more.

"I feel the same way kona." youi says placing her cup down youi gave kona a small smile.

kona snaped back seeing her friend in pain from the loss of her on parents and how it was effecting her."you have me and tokayami you have no reason to be alone."

kona felt those words meant somthing as she said them to youi.

"of crosue but its not the same as a mothers touch when your sick or a father saying I love you." youi gets a bit choked up.

A knock breamd from her door the same knock from last night. Banging harsh knocking sound kona looked out the window. youi got up jumpin from the thudding and banging sounnds.

"YOUI OPEN UP!!" soka yelled kicking and banging at the door.youi mummbles underneth her voice. "I wish toka was here."

she backed away from the coffee table and hide herself behind the couch.

"youi who is that?" kona grew concerd.

"s-soka his been harrsaing me for a while toka say's he will handle it but He isn't here."

youi looked at kona with fear in her eye's her hands was termbling.

kona has seen that look before. "Don't worry we don't need tokayami." She grabed somthing out

her bag a long black stick And headed to the front door opeing it slightly.

"What is it you want soka?" kona asked him her arm hide behind the door with the stick in hand.

"I want to see youi I need to apologize and explain myself to her." looking directly at her

soka felt as if he new the young girl standing in front of him.

"have we met before?" tilting his head a bit soka crossed his arms and nearowed his eyes.

"it's me kona." she wasn't angery very clam she also have been waiting a long time for this day.

soka laughed in her face he reached out to push her. kona swing her arm around zapping

him with the long tazer she was hiding behind the door. She slamed the door in his face

then locked the door.

Youi phone went off.

Moving from behind the couch she answerd her phone as quick as she could with out checking

the caller I.D.

"hello." youi spoke nervously.

"Are you okay,I just got a notifactions that the door was lift open." tokayami asked.

"Yes I'm fine kona just tazed your bother." youi says.

Tokayami smiles a little on the inside feeling as though his plans are falling into place.

"really I will have to look back at the camera feed and watch it, sounds funny " tokayami try's to joke.

"Also toka thank you." youi smiled big holding the phone close to her ear.

"I have to go but I will be home soon promise." he hangs up the phone.

Youi looks over towards kona who was infruated.

"how long has this been going on youi?" she asked in a high tone voice almost yelling.

Kona's voice was sherll and calm at most but when she was angery it wasn't anything

you could do or tell her. "every since your faimly moved from this street. It got worse

once tokayami went to college." youi spoke.

Kona couldn't put in words in how angery and irratied she was by this news.

"why didn't you call me or notfiiy someone.?" kona asked.

"everytime i told the techer or his mother they writen it off as him acting out because

he liked me or giving him a few days out of school his mother didn't even say much."

youi vocie grew small and tiny she beging to fidgit with her clothes.youi felt as if she disappointed kona by her actions.

"At some point he stoped and I grew to like him but then it just start back up again and I'd

blame myslef." youi spoke highly of him but not herself.

"What!!" kona yelled brushing her hair back.

she gentley placed her tazer into her bag. setting back down next to youi.

kona toke a small breath. "hasana wouldn't like me yelling at you right now." kona smiled

and held youi's hand. "let's go out and get some freash air." she suggested kona grabed her bag.

and held youi's hand.

Youi went to her room and grabed her purse so she could go out with kona. Not before she changed clothes to feel more comfortable with the new spring air.

"could we pick a few things at the market I like to make myself dinner tonight seeing as

toka usally do it." she say's in excitment.

Kona nods at the request as she makes her way up the stairs and into youi room

the door oopens kona looking dircetly at youi. Both of there eyes meet. "I thought I change." youi say's calmly. "oh no no go ahaed." kona said closing the door her face as red as a radish.

"just to let you know when your ready to leave. I'll be down stairs." kona had spoke. thoughts of her smooth brown skin replay in kona's mind.

youi grabed her bag and headed downstairs. locking up the house she set the alarm.

youi and kona spent the day laughing and cathing up going to places they both love and enjoy.

"wait we have to grab some grocey before heading back." youi spoke.

kona nods and follows her into the gorcey store.

"Are you going to stay the night?" youi asked politly.

"After today and this moring of crouse I don't want anything to happen to you now that I know what is really going on." kona had a pack of noodles in her hand reading over the igrendints and claireos. kona was thin and did most acadicm sports at her new school so of coruse that's going to matter to someone that take special care of themsevel.

youi watching her thinking of somthing healthy for them both to eat.

"right of crouse so um..in the moring when you leave lock the door for me and set the alram." youi

spoke. kona looked at her. "won't it go off once you get up." she asked placeing the noodles in the buggie. "no becusae i'll be at the corut house by time you leave." youi say's heastinly.

"the crout house for what reason? " kona shoucked to here about this just now. "I'm filling a restaing oder on soka." youi pushed the bugie along but kona pulled youi to the side.

"wait right here don't go anywhere." kona ran off to the bathroom.

kona: you need to get back as soon as you can!

tokayami: What happend?

kona: tomorw sometime time she is going to the court house to fill a restraining oder on your bother.

tokayami: okay i see nothing wroung with that one bit.

tokayami: she is in her llegel right to do so kona I'm not going to portce my little brother. Or the actions his done.

kona: toka what all has he done t-

tokayami: have you forgtten about your sister,the times he was mean to her and you, he never stopped not even when I was alone with him. tokayami said his last respcetful requset and then hung up the phone. leveing him more irraited with his day then before.

kona left the bathroom to find youi at the cashreigseter.

"I asked you to wait for me?"

kona looks at her she felt defeated but for what reason. Youi handed the cashire the money letting out a soft breath.

"I'm sorry i'm a bit hungery and would like to get home so I can get a good nights rest,"

Youi spoke.

Kona let out a big huff and looked over her phone screen for any new messages, the spring air was more refreshing then she remberd. When she was little her brother would take kona and her twin sister to the playground after getting ice cream.

She remeber how many times youi would cry becasue her ice cream melted or she triped and droped it. Kona let out small laugh holding the grocery's in heands. "What's so funny?" Youi asked.

Kona shook her head with a small smile on her face. "Nothing. Just rembering how clumsy you where." she spoke.

Youi puffed up her cheecks. "I don't know what your talking about."

They both countied talking reaching the front gate of youi house.

They both made it back youi's safely.

"Hey kona. Youi I tried to call you?" soka asked his eye's prieced through her he was wearing the same clothes as yesterday. "Why are you here?" Kona asked narrowing her eyebrows.

There was a smell coming from soka as if he been digging through the grabge. Youi looked at his shoes they looked torn and muddy.

Kona held her hand out placeing her bodie infront of youi.

"I just came by to let youi know that she won't be bothered by those girls anymore." approching kona he placed something in her hands and left.

"Go inside youi hurry and call tokayami." kona says.

Youi close's the door behind her dailing the number.

Tokayami: Hello.

Youi: kona told me to call you. your brother just showed up here looking very disrodent.

Tokayami: Really?

Kona comes inside takeing the phone away from youi. Walking into the kitcehn.

Kona: Get your ass back here!

Tokayami: Calm down.

Kona: Calm down! Calm Down! Do you know what he just gave me!

My twin sisters hair pin!!

she hung up on him handing youi her phone. "I'm sorry but I gotta go lock the door I will text you."

"Wait kona!" youi yelled reaching out her hand. kona rushed out the door with her things.

"I don't want to be alone." youi say's in hushed tones.

To be revised July 22