Chapter 3 - Awakening

"Takuto...Come into the Darkness...We...await you..." 

Takuto woke up with a start. Heart beating fast, he looked around his room, half expecting to see someone there.

"That's strange..." he sighed, "I thought someone was talking to me..." Turning his head, he looked out the window. It was morning. Slowly, he climbed out of bed and dragged himself over to the door. Letting out a yawn, he opened it and stepped out into the hallway. On the floor, he saw his clothes neatly folded in a pile. Closing his door, he picked up his clothes and groggily walked to the bathroom, finding that it was empty.

"Thank you..." he said sleepily.

Takuto strode into the bathroom, took off his clothes and dropped them onto the white tiled floor. Turning on the bath water, he waited until it was the perfect temperature and climbed in. He let himself rest for a while, the steamy water calming his nerves from his nightmare. "What was that dream about...Who was speaking to me...?" Relaxing, he sank his chest under the water and blew bubbles with his mouth. "I'll relax at school. Hopefully I'll meet Okasan-chan on the way," he smiled at the thought.

After washing up, he climbed out of the tub and drained the water; then he put on his uniform. The smell of breakfast drifted past his nose and he grinned.

"Breakfast…"

Takuto opened the door and headed down the hallway towards the stairs. He made his way down and took his seat at the kitchen table. A few minutes later his sister entered the room.

"Geez Kuto...You used up all the warm water," she frowned.

Takuto chuckled quietly to himself. "Wake up earlier, Sakairi"

She sat down across from him. "I saw you walking a girl home last night," Sakairi said with a hint of interest in her voice.

"...That's none of your business, girl. You were supposed to be asleep."

Sakairi smiled at him. "She's your girlfriend."

Takuto flinched. "No she's not! We're just friends... That's all..." Takuto felt himself flushing.

"You like her," A smirk appeared on Sakairi's lips.

"As a friend! N-Nothing more..." Takuto growled.  "Can we please get off of this topic, Sakairi?"

"You like her! I knew it!" Sakairi said leaning back in her chair with a look of triumph on her face. "But whatever. I can see it's a touchy subject for you."

Takuto sighed with relief when his mother placed the food on the table. Glancing over at her, he smiled slightly. "Thanks," he nodded.

"You’re welcome," his mother replied. Takuto began eating his breakfast and finished it quickly. Standing up from his chair, he dropped his silverware in the sink and jogged towards the kitchen door.

"I'm going" he stated quickly. Takuto didn't want to miss seeing Okasan again.

"Don't leave that girl waiting!" Sakairi teased. 

Ignoring his younger sister's comment, Takuto quickly grabbed his shoes, sliding them onto his feet, and headed out the door a few seconds later. He rushed down the path and hopped over the gate, not bothering to open it. He looked around for Okasan, but she was nowhere in sight. "I missed her..." he sighed.

"Takuto-kun!!!"

Takuto twisted his head to the side to see Okasan jogging towards him. "Okasan-chan!" he called out.

"Sorry...I had trouble getting out of the house today...I overslept" she smiled weakly.

"I can tell. You look tired" Takuto grinned cheerily.

"Let's get going to school." Okasan nodded.

"Right." Takuto replied.

The two began their walk to school leisurely, almost like they had not a care in the world.  Spring flower blossoms blew from the trees, swirling around the two like a tornado of beauty. Takuto shifted his gaze to look at Okasan, whose eyes were concentrated on the ground in front of her. Chest rising, she let out a sigh and tightened the grip on her bag.

"Takuto-kun..." Okasan said, glancing at Takuto.

"Yes?" he replied quietly.

"What...do you think of me?" Okasan said with a slight tint of red in her cheeks.

Takuto stared at her for a moment. His brain had totally shut down. He didn't know what to say… There were a million things that he could say about the girl that stood before him.

"Hmmm... You're a nice person and very friendly." Takuto smiled.

"You are too, Takuto-kun! You are really nice!" she said, flustered. Takuto beamed at her. The words he had said to her weren't exactly what he was planning on saying, but he loved the reply he received.

"People would think... From where I come from, I would act the same way the people living there do... But, I'm... different..." he stated, looking at the sky.

"Yes. You are different...In a good way, I mean! You are nicer than many people here..." Okasan said quietly, her cheeks slightly becoming pink with blush.

"I know." Takuto whispered. His thoughts began to trail off, but the most pressing thing on his mind was about what Sakairi said earlier in the morning.

"Takuto-kun."

"Huh? What?" Takuto was snapped back to reality by the sound of Okasan's voice.

"We are at school..." Okasan smiled.

"Ah, I see," Takuto felt a bit embarrassed after totally spacing out.  

"Umm, let's get to class before the bell rings today," said Okasan, giggling.

"Right" Takuto and Okasan walked to class and sat in their seats only seconds before the bell rang.  

'Just in time too...' Takuto thought.

The teacher walked in, calling everyone to their seats. He took role and then class began. Mr. Shimitaro was a science teacher, so he taught them biology. Today they were learning about cells and how they work together to form living organisms.  

        'This is simple stuff... why are we going over this?' Takuto questioned silently, allowing his mind to wander.

        Drumming his fingers on his desk, he reached into his notebook to take out a piece of paper and began to draw. His mind wandered to unknown places while he sketched. When he refocused, he saw that he drew something strange. Takuto had drawn the beast that had attacked him the other day. "Usraq..." he mumbled.  

'What did I just say?!' he nearly screamed..

He remembered how the monster moved, exactly how it looked. Takuto drew it exactly how it appeared, down to the smallest detail. He took the piece of paper and crumbled it into a ball, tossing it across the room towards the garbage bin. Unfortunately, his throw fell short. The paper ball hit someone in the head, and the unlucky target's immediate reaction was to stand and face the assailant. Takuto saw him stand and shrank down in his chair a little. The boy stomped over to Takuto and grabbed him by the shirt.

"Why did you just hit me with paper?!" the boy growled, knocking Takuto out of his char.

 

"It was an accident...I was aiming for the trash."

"Kamuto! Sit!"

The two boys turned to see the teacher glaring directly at them.

"Yes sir..." The larger boy muttered.

Kamuto walked back over to his seat and sat down, not taking his eyes off of Takuto. Takuto hoped class would end soon. His prayers were answered when the bell rang. Takuto rushed out of the classroom and towards his next class. Just when he thought he was in the clear, something slammed him into the wall. Dazed, Takuto got a glimpse of who his attacker was.

"Kamuto..." he muttered.

"I didn't get the chance to repay you for hitting me in the head with that paper ball," he sneered.

Takuto sighed and looked at Kamuto in the eyes. "You have anger issues." he breathed.

"What did you say?!" Kamuto growled. He brought his large fist back to punch Takuto straight in his face. Takuto ducked and the punch missed him, then he moved to the left of Kamuto.

"What the..." Kamuto growled. He went for a grab but Takuto was too quick. He stepped out of the way and tripped Kamuto. Takuto smiled to himself; for this was only play to him. Suddenly, someone grabbed him from behind in a headlock. "Tch..." Takuto groaned, trying to pull away. Kamuto stood to face Takuto, wiping a stray droplet of spit from his mouth.

"Hey, you're quick. But you aren't fast enough!" Laughing, he punched Takuto hard in the stomach. Takuto flinched, and he tried to struggle against his retainer's grasp.

"Let me... go... "He growled.

Kamuto smiled at Takuto, his grin showing hints of satisfaction. "You should know not to mess with me," The bully brought his fist back again, shooting it forward and slamming it violently into Takuto's right eye, causing Takuto to suffer from the terrible aftereffect that was a black eye.

"Gh..." Takuto groaned in pain. Suddenly, he felt a strange tingly feeling coarse throughout his body. Takuto closed his eyes, and his irises began to glow black. When he opened them, everything looked different. The school was in black and white, distorted. Kamuto had become a human shaped glowing red light. Takuto could feel a strange tug inside of his body, almost if telling him what to do in the situation. Bringing his right foot up, he brutally stomped down on his retainer's foot, and then broke free from his grasp. Face emotionless, he stepped off of his right foot and lunged towards him, punching him hard in the chest which sent him flying across the hallway into a row of lockers.

"What the!?" Kamuto gasped. He began to quake with fear. What had happened to the scrawny boy who just seconds ago was being beaten so easily?

Takuto turned on Kamuto with a dark glare on his features. "Get your friend and go...Now!" he commanded, voice echoing throughout the halls. Kamuto nodded, rushing to his friend's aid. Risking one glance at Takuto, he let out a harsh squeal as Takuto raised his right fist to him. Kamuto got the warning, and quickly dragged his companion off down the hallway awkwardly.

"I-I'll get you for this, Fujiwara!"

Takuto blinked a few times and his vision returned to normal. "What...was that?" Takuto muttered. Suddenly, Takuto felt a painful shock go through his body, and he collapsed to the floor. The last thing he heard were footsteps and the sound of someone calling his name before entering the swirling darkness that was known as unconsciousness…



Author's Note

I think this is one of my favorite chapters. Feel free to leave feedback guys.