“Rise and shine, sleepy head,” Someone chimed.
Ken wearily woke up, despite his urge to keep sleeping. He got up from the futon and looked around. The ceiling was a mass of arches, Xs, and triangles. The walls were ugly and gray. The floor was hard, smooth cement, and there was a scent of salt water and curry in the air. “Where am I?” He said groggily, his voice rough. His arm was bandaged and hung in a sling.
“I wanted to thank you for saving my life yesterday, “She said, ignoring his question. “So, thank you,” She placed a bowl of curry and rice in front of him.
“I was just there coincidentally; I wasn’t planning to save anyone’s life…,” He explained and took a bite. “It’s good…,”
“Still, you saved my life. If I can do anything, anything at all…,“ Kisa started.
“You don’t have to repay me…,” He answered. “I did what anyone would have done.”
“Even though you didn’t have to, you rescued me. In the attempt, you got injured. Please let me repay you,” She took his hands and stared at him with a serious face.
“That was just me not being careful,” Ken said.
“Please!!!” Kisa was on the verge of getting onto her knees. “Stop being so modest!!!” Ken sighed, a frown appearing on his face.
“Then I guess there’s no choice,” he gave in. He looked at her, straight into her sapphire eyes. For the first time she paid attention to the color of his eyes: bluish-purple. All of a sudden, he gave an unusually long creepy smile. Kisa felt chills run down her spine. Maybe his being modest was a good thing after all. With that creepy, seemingly perverted smile, he said, “You shall become…a slave: My slave, that is,”
The air was silent between them.
“What?” was all Kisa could say then. “A-A Slave?” He nodded, the smile abruptly disappeared and he had a stern look on his face, showing that he was serious.
“That’s a pretty good idea, don’t you think? Thanks for making me think about this. I mean, if you hadn’t insisted on a favor, I wouldn’t have said anything,” Ken smiled at her. Her face was flushed with disbelief and confusion.
“That’s not…Can’t I do something else? I was thinking like running an errand for you or helping you with your homework but a slave? Are you kidding me?” Kisa asked. Ken shook his head childishly.
“You’re going to have to do that anyway. By being my slave, your favor goes onto eternity. That sounds like a good deal to me,” The smirk on his face made Kisa even angrier. She wanted to slap him…no, she wanted to slap herself for insisting to pay him back with an act of kindness. She didn’t think that he would use it for a long term benefit.
She rubbed her forehead, “What did I get myself into?” While she was doing that, Ken motioned for seconds. “You’re done already?”
“Gotta get better. Thanks, slave,” he grinned. Kisa frowned at him. She didn’t want to be a slave, even if the person she was slaving for was her savior.
“I would,” she started. “But I don’t have anymore cash on me. Sorry,”
“You bought it?” he asked, the smile vanished.
“Yeah, no kitchen in this factory,” she shrugged. “You’ll have to get it after I return from work, today’s payday.”
“Did you have any for yourself?” he asked. She could sense the regret he began to develop inside himself though he didn’t show it in his face.
“You ate all of it, every single thing,” she honestly told him though she, for some reason, tried to stab him with every word. “But I’ll just share lunch with Katie,”
“I’m sorry…,” he said, somehow looking very sad. She could feel her spirit lower too when she watched him, regretting saying what she had said.
“G-geez, I was kidding. I had a couple bites before I gave that to you,” she lied. Then she stood up. She went to a corner of the factory and put on the scarf and fall coat that lied there. “I’m going now. I’ll buy more food later,” He watched her move.
“Where are you going?” he inquired.
“School,” she replied as she wrapped her white scarf around her neck. When she was done, it covered almost half of her face.
“School?! Why didn’t you remind me?” he cried and attempted to get out of the futon. He struggled, feeling sore all over.
“What are you doing?” Kisa ran to the futon and gently forced him down. “Your injuries haven’t fully healed yet. You should stay and get some rest. I would have sent you to the hospital but I didn’t know your parents and have enough money—,” He struggled against her hands and slowly lifted himself up.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine. I still got some bruises and stuff but—,” he pulled off the two talismans off his back. “—these helped a lot.” He endeavored to walk to the door where it lead to the outside but he had difficulty doing so. She shrugged. She didn’t feel like being persistent anymore. If she had continued, he probably would have made her piggyback him all the way to school. She didn’t like that idea.
“If you insist,” she shrugged and left to the door. He tripped over stuff as he tried to follow.
“W-wait for me,” he shouted after. Kisa watched him scurry to her. “How do I look?” His uniform coat was all wrinkly and his tie was crooked. He must have tossed and turned a lot while he slept. She understood though, that futon was as hard as a rock. Kisa eyed him like he was a little kid. She didn’t respond. He cleared his throat and repeated his question.
“Are you serious?” Kisa tried to flatten his coat by stretching it downwards and fixed his tie. Every time she flatten his coat, she hit him a little harder than the one before and every time she dangled his tie, he felt like choking. She was obviously mad about being his “slave”. She didn’t like to be told what to do; in fact, that’s why she left home. “Done,” she said as she finished, feeling like she was a mom who just fixed up her son’s outfit. She was too young to be a mother.
“Thanks,” he coughed, he could barely breathe. The tie was too tight. After she started off, he quickly released his throat from the constriction. He was relieved to have it loosened. Then he jogged after Kisa, who suddenly was a block away from him.
**********************************************************************************************
“What happened to you?” a boy asked, looking at Ken. He had a bandage on his eyebrow and under his chin.
“I was playing with the dogs,” he lied scratching the band aid.
“You’re too wild Ken,” his friend frowned at him. Ken just shrugged.
“Are you going to go fish or not?” Ken asked as he tried to peek at his friend’s cards.
“Get away from my cards!” he cried, backing away. “I’m going to take that 5 you’ve been hiding from me and win this game is what I’m going to do,” He plucked Ken’s 5 out of his hands and set down a matching pair on his desk.
“No Way!” Ken exclaimed, upset that he had lost. “Rematch! I demand a rematch!” Kisa sighed. Of all card games, why were they playing Go-Fish? she thought. Boys…. Also, apparently, Ken had the same homeroom with her but she never noticed before. She realized that during yesterday’s incident with Anna and Henry, he had called her by her name. When she watched him sleeping on her futon before he woke up, she thought that he must have known through something magical about her—like she had an important role in a magical adventure or was a savior needing reminding of her forgotten past. She was indeed a dreamy girl but she liked adventure, especially when there was some sort of romance plotted. Well, in books she did but in real life, she wasn’t so sure.
“What did you do to your hand?” Kisa found Katie standing in front of her, looking down on her at a very close range. Kisa jumped back in her seat, almost falling out of it.
“K-Katie, when did you get there?” she stuttered. Katie folded her arms. He had little braids in her hair today. Her outfit was always layered in a stylish gothic manner and wore black and white striped stockings today. Katie always looked gorgeous and Kisa always couldn’t look at her without admiring her the second after.
“So now your day dreaming? No more sleeping in class Kisa-chan?” Katie teased, grabbing the next seat to hers. Kisa’s cheeks burned softly. Katie loved to make Kisa feel uncomfortable even though it was in a friendly way. They were friends ever since elementary school, sixth grade. “Okay now, tell me what happened to your hand. It looks like a cat scratched through your skin while rubbing your hand over sand paper. Are those splinters?” Kisa pulled her hand away from Katie who was roughly inspecting her injured hand.
“That hurts,” she said. “I was just walking around the house in the dark. My mom was redecorating the corridor and had nailed in some nails for hanging up new pictures. I was going to the bathroom at night and tried to feel my way there but got scratched instead,” She rubbed her hand, trying to make it seem as if she was actually telling the truth. Katie just stared at her. The look on her face clearly stated that she was suspicious of Kisa. Kisa tried not to stumble under her fiery gaze.
“Is that all?” Katie asked, stretching the word “all”. Kisa could feel her cheeks blaze uneasy and feel the sweat slowly climb down reddened cheeks. Before Kisa could break down to Katie with her very potent ogle, the teacher called for Katie for some school related work. “I’ll be right there,” she replied to the teacher. Prior to her leave, she glanced at Kisa again, still giving her the doubtful eye. She merely smiled at Katie leaving.
“Phew,” Kisa breathed in relief. She would always be weak at knees whenever she lied to Katie. Katie was her best friend after all. But sometimes lying was the only thing Kisa could do to Katie. She felt bad that Katie didn’t know about her living by herself, in an abandoned factory or that she had ran away from that awful home of her mother’s. She couldn’t tell Katie the truth or else she would worry her friend. She didn’t want Katie to be worried. She placed her face in her hands. She hated lying to her.
“You dropped something,” someone said. Kisa left her face defenseless as she dropped them from her eyes.
“Oh,” was what she was about to say but then realized the person in front of her was none other than Ken. He jabbed his index finger onto her forehead. It left a mark.
“OWW!” she cried in pain. She rubbed her bruised forehead. “Why’d you do that for?” Ken simply just smiled.
“I want a soda,” he mumbled to her. She continued to rub her head and the pain began to diminish.
“Class is in session. No one is allowed to go out. Go sit back down,” she ordered, annoyed at what he had done.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know that slaves could tell their masters to ‘Go sit down’, did you?” he gave a wide smirk after saying that. Kisa’s veins boiled. She felt like she could slap him now.
“But the teacher—,”
“Just tell her that you need to use the bathroom,” he insisted. Kisa frowned and tried to glare at him like Katie did to her but with more force. It didn’t work. Finally, she gave in.
“Fine but there are no guarantees that I’ll come back with your soda or come back at all. Be forewarned,” she told him. She really did want to run away from him. He was getting more annoying every single minute. She stared straight into his purplish-blue eyes, which suddenly made her heart skip a beat. What was that about? she asked herself, surprised at what her heart had done. Though his eyes were rather unique and beautiful, she didn’t need to have done that. He poked her forehead again, at the very same spot.
“Just kidding,” he replied in a low voice. Kisa again massaged her weak forehead.
“Then what was that for?” she growled at him. If he was going to do that again, she would bite his finger off.
“Just wanted to see if you’re really going to work for me,” he grinned. Two dimples showed at the sides of his cheeks. She punched her ribs, don’t you dare do that again, she commanded her heart. She was not going to like this guy, no matter what. He was a jerk and will always be a jerk. He didn’t notice and walked back to his seat saying, “Try not to fall asleep this time, okay?”
“Whatever,” she grumbled at him. She could hear his friends whisper about her and why Ken had done that. He whispered something to them but she couldn’t here. If he was spreading rumors, she would have to retie that tie again, even skin-tight than before.
The teacher walked up to the front of the classroom and softly, yet firmly, tapped her ruler against the podium which stood in front.
“Class, as you already know, winter break starts in a week’s notice. I was wondering if any one of you would like to enjoy bringing your grades up in the newly funded Winter Acceptation? I founded this ‘club’, as the teachers call it, to help students in need of good, passable and acceptable grades. Also, it’s kinda like a camp, students get to stay at dormitories at the college campus right next to our school. Any volunteers for the first run?” Ms. Kisamoto looked around the class. Her glasses were held high and her brown eyes roamed the twenty desks in the room. To her surprise, Kisa was the first, and only it seems, to raise her hand. This was a perfect idea. She wasn’t excited to spend the winter break in a cold, heatless factory full of dead mice and live ones. She hated mice, and bugs. The eight-legged ones were the worst of them all. “Kisa? I’m glad that you’re so enthusiastic about this new program but you have all As in your classes, I don’t really see a need for your to endure through this tutoring session.”
“I really don’t mind…I can’t really let up an offer that’ll help me become better in school,” Kisa tried to grin. In reality, she didn’t like school that much. It was mainly just a waste time, devouring time for work and sleep. Ms. Kisamoto smiled, approvingly.
“I’m glad to know that you are a lover of knowledge. So am I, you know. Please come up here and sign this green sheet,” smiled the teacher. Her smile seemed so delicate and sweet. It oddly matched her long sleek black hair and slender body. Her personality was another matter. But before Kisa could get up, Ken raised his hand.
“I’m sorry but Kisa can’t go on that Winter Accept-thingy. She has a job she has to do that week,” he announced. Kisa couldn’t believe Ken did that. She wanted to keep the “slave”-work as quiet and unknown at school as possible. The teacher had a puzzled expression, switching her eyes to Ken then to Kisa and back to Ken. Kisa didn’t want to ruin her winter break with him. She’d rather spend it at the factory all week long.
“No I don’t, Ms. Kisamoto, I do want—,”
“Her boss says that if she doesn’t work that week, he’ll fire her or do something horrible to her, like tell a certain friend a secret or two. He’s very demanding you know,” Ken added. She glared at him as if saying “You wouldn’t dare” but not out loud. She didn’t want him to go any further.
“Oh, well that’s too bad Kisa. Maybe next year,” Ms. Kisamoto politely smiled though the disappointment openly showed on her face. Kisa felt like she should keep insisting but for Katie’s sake, she quieted. She didn’t want Ken harassing her.
“I bet Ken’s just covering up for his girlfriend. He just wants to spend some time with her, even if she doesn’t want to,” Ken’s friend shouted out. Everyone in the classroom laughed and Kisa was fuming with rage. She didn’t know if she could keep it down any longer.
“That’s not true!” Kisa shouted at them, flustered. They just carried on laughing like hyenas, especially the boys. Kisa looked to Ken who was just smiling dumbly like a kid.
“Quiet down class. There’s no need to get involved with Kisa’s love life,” the teacher said, a little surprised at how wild the kids got.
“B-but that’s not true!” Kisa repeated.
“Please, Kisa, sit down. We’re going to go back to school now. I want to start the writing prompt on marketing advertising and how you like it or not,” the teacher continued. Kisa slumped down into her chair and pouted. This was definitely one of the worst days of her life. The girl behind her patted her back and handed her a note. She was giggling, and Kisa knew why. It was from Ken. She, without noticing, crumpled the paper in anger and threw it on the floor. Then another letter was passed down to her again.
“Playing hard to get aren’t ya?” the girl whispered behind. Kisa could feel the steam burst out of her ears. She threw it on the floor again, it landed farther than the first. Ken kept passing letters until the class was done with the prompt. Kisa finally turned to Ken, receiving the last note. He was angry as well, since she had used most of his papers, and motioned for her to open the letter. Finally, she opened on of the bothersome letters. The girl behind her laughed again.
“You’re really getting on my nerves, my lady.
You know how many trees you’re killing?
By the way, this is the 40th time I wrote this stupid letter
If you want to know what you have to do for me, slave,
meet me after school at the front.
The threat still stands
If this was my talisman papers, I would kill you if
you had thrown one away!”
You know how many trees you’re killing?
By the way, this is the 40th time I wrote this stupid letter
If you want to know what you have to do for me, slave,
meet me after school at the front.
The threat still stands
If this was my talisman papers, I would kill you if
you had thrown one away!”
Kisa rolled her eyes. “My lady”? Wow, this guy was sure unique—in a stupid way, of course. Kisa crumpled up the paper again and threw it to the pile that was growing very large.
“Kisa! Did you make this mess? Clean it up, do you know how many trees you’re killing? Put them in the recycling,” Ms. Kisamoto ordered, seeing the pile. Kisa picked up Ken’s snicker. She got out of her desk and quickly put the thousands of crumpled notes into the recycle bin.
**********************************************************************************************
“Kisa, stop trying to run away from me,” Ken called after her as they walked on the snowy sidewalk. She mumbled something into her scarf. “What?”
“Stop stalking me! You’re already in like five of my classes, why do you have to follow me home? I’m going to call 911 pretty soon,” Kisa threatened. He grabbed her shoulders and turned her around. School ended and the students were departing from the building. All day long, she had to endure his idiocy and stupidity and everything-ity of his. She couldn’t stand him any longer. She even tried to walk out the back door of the school but he had last period with her too. He followed her everywhere she went, like a lost puppy with purple eyes. “Let go of me,” she pushed him away and walked away again.
“You’re not going to break your ‘act of kindness’ to me, are you? You didn’t forget about yesterday, did you?” he asked. His voice seemed more distant as she walked away. He had stopped. After each and every step, she felt guilt build up into her abdominal. They were eating at her and picking at her ticklish spots. Of course she hadn’t forgotten about yesterday. Her life almost ended that very day but Ken swooped in to save her. Even though he was annoying as a fly, she couldn’t take another step. She stopped and stood there, knowing that Ken had that dumb ol’ smile on his face again and that he would run up to her. He did just so.
“What do you want me to do, then?” Kisa asked irritated as he caught up. Ken still had that goofy smile plastered on his face. He was such a kid. Then that smile disappeared. He almost choked as he was saying what he said next.
“I have a favor to ask,” he cleared his throat. “Will…will…will you…,” He took forever to say whatever he had to say.
“Hurry it up or I’ll freeze over here,” Kisa complained. He scratched his head, his cheeks growing pink. It matched his pink nose from the winter wind.
“Will…you…um,”
“Will I what? Say it already,” she ordered spitefully. Today’s wind was colder than yesterday. She forgot her gloves at the factory. Her hands nestled stiffly in her small coat pockets.
“Will you go to my parent’s house and pretend to be my girlfriend, please?” he said in one’s breath. None of it would have made sense to a normal human but Kisa’s ears were as sharp as a needle.
“What? Heck no!” she answered quickly. The idea made her come close to vomiting.
“Please, you’re like the only person that I could ask. Plus you’re my slave, remember?” he pleaded with his bright eyes. Kisa had to look away. She did not want to involve herself in this deal.
“No way,” she rejected. His spirits lowered.
“I need your help Kisa. You’re the only one who could help me out of my situation,” Ken grabbed Kisa by the shoulders again, forcing her to look into his gorgeous eyes. They shimmered more now as it stared into her own blue abyss. She could feel herself slipping in his eyes. They were so magical and wonderful. She shook her head to shake free of his potent trap.
“Can’t you ask another girl?” she tried trying to push him away. He had a strong grip.
“Like they actually pay any attention to me,” he looked away. If they see those eyes, they wouldn’t be able to say no, she thought. She closed her eyes. No, I can’t. I don’t want to…. She felt the hands tighten on her small shoulders and purple eyes scan through her; she could even see them under her eyelids.
“Fine!” She shouted in his face. “Just get away from me!” He immediately backed off, grateful of her decision. A bright smile curled around his lips.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!” He cried, joyful, and almost attempted to hug her. She shook her head.
“I’ll do it, under one condition,” she bargained. He didn’t seem to care, he was just happy that she was helping him out. This “situation” of his must have been a big one, especially when he was so happy for her to accept. She sure hoped that she didn’t get involved with something ridiculous.
“Sure, anything you say,” Ken replied as happy as ever.
“You free me, the second after I’m done here,” she said.
“Fine, I don’t care. You weren’t that great of a slave anyways,” he said, he almost leaped for joy. She watched him dance a little while longer. It was fun to watch him move his body.
“So what’s this ‘situation’ you’ve been accustomed to anyways?” Kisa asked, curious.
Ken stopped dancing and took a breath, “Well, I guess you’ll need to know. My parents want to do one of those arranged marriage crap. They’re so old fashioned and traditional. I swear, I’m never going to marry or fall in love. It’s just plain stupid,” You can say that again, Kisa agreed accompanying it with a small grin.
“What’s wrong with the girl?” inquired Kisa.
“I swear,” Ken began. “She’s the devil.”
