Night Watch I must be an idiot. It's almost winter, and it seems to be getting colder by the minute. Hell, it'd be cold any time of the year, in the middle of the night like this. What the hell am I doing outside? But I know the answer. Much as I'd like to deny it. It's because of her. Because of her that I'm out here at this ungodly hour, when even street thieves have enough sense to turn in for the night. Because of her that I'm sitting in a damn tree outside her window like some kind of peeping Tom. If her parents catch me -- doesn't matter how much they like me -- they'll kill me. But it doesn't matter. Her parents, the cold -- and it is cold, and I'm shivering so much that I have to wrap my jacket tighter around myself to keep from shaking the leaves off this tree with my shivering -- or whatever anyone passing by might think -- I'll endure it, all of it. I just don't feel right, leaving her alone, after what happened... when her teachers, under the control of the Four Gods, almost killed her. When she almost died because I wasn't there. Che. Damn bastard. Can't even protect your own... Own what? If I ever called her my girlfriend, she'd probably laugh in my face. Or slap me, or do something else equally damaging to my ego. But I can't for the life of me bring myself to call her just my friend. Not when I want so much to protect her, every minute of every day. Not when it scares the shit out of me to think that she might wise up one day and finally leave me. Not when I... I... Right. Damn, it's getting really cold. And I'm starting to cramp, sitting all huddled up in this nook between the tree branch and the trunk. But I've got to stay here, just in case something happens. I can't leave her. Anyway, it's not like Ofukuro cares I'm out here. Hell, she probably didn't even notice me leave; she was so sloshed tonight. And the sleep I'm missing out on now I can make up for during school tomorrow. Wait; I think it's already tomorrow. Her bed's close enough to the window that I can see her clock. But the numbers are small; I have to squint to make them out. 2:43. Yup, it's tomorrow. She's going to be waking up in a few hours; going to be opening those big brown eyes of hers and dragging her small body out of bed and to the bathroom to get ready for school. How do I know? It's not like this tree grew overnight; it's been here for years, you know. But nothing's happening right now. She isn't moving, except when she breathes. I can see the sheet float up when her chest rises, then fall back down. Up, then down. Slow and steady... it's kind of soothing. I bet her heartbeat would be, too. The moon's still out, and I can see her face clearly by its light. Eyes closed, eyelashes brushing her cheek -- she's got really long eyelashes, you know -- her mouth open just a little. The moonlight shines into the window at an angle, so that it's right on her face. It makes her look pale and... otherworldly, almost. Like an angel. She sure doesn't act like one, though. Not when she's awake. But, as long as no one's around... Hell, I might as well say it. She is one. Mine. That's why I've gotta watch over her. Make sure nothing happens to her. I remember, from years ago, the promise I made...
Night. Same house, same window, another time. A chubby little face appears between the curtains, an equally chubby hand rubbing sleep from its eyes. The little girl yawns, and another pebble strikes the window before she pushes it open. "What do you want, Yuusuke?" she whispers down at her visitor, a little boy, neck craned back to look up at her, his remaining arsenal of pebbles clutched in one hand. "Wanna play?" the boy calls back, loudly. "Shh!" she hisses, glaring at him. "You'll wake everybody up! Otousan and Okaasan need their sleep so they can run the rest'rant all day!" she scolds, all childish indignation. Pouting, the boy shimmies up the tree, crawling dangerously far out onto the branch nearest her window. "There. Better?" he asks in a more normal voice. After waiting for her reluctant nod, he repeats, "So, wanna play?" Her face is bewildered, as if she can't even fathom doing such a thing. "Do you know how late it is, Yuusuke? It's eleven o'clock!" He shrugs jean jacket-clad shoulders. "So? You can just climb out here," he explains, motions toward his perch. "Your parents don’t hafta know." She seems nonplussed by his casualness. "I... no!" "Why? Scared?" he leers. "Don't think you can climb out?" "I can too!" "Betcha can't." Immediately she wriggles her way out the window, all earlier reservations forgotten in the need to prove herself right. She makes a small leap onto the branch, trying to ignore the beat her heart skips when her landing place proves less steady than she thought, then straddles the limb to get a better hold. "See?" she says smugly to her companion. "Told ya I could." He doesn't seem at all troubled at being proven wrong. "All right, let's go play!" "Huh? But I...we can't." "Whaddaya mean?" he asks, confused. "I..." "What?" "'Mscaredo'th'dark," she mumbles. "Huh?" "I'm scared of the dark!" she repeats, louder this time, and a tad more vehemently then she'd meant to. She crosses her arms defiantly, bracing herself against his imminent taunting. But no taunts come. Instead, he cocks his head to the side, his round little face the picture of puzzlment. "Why? 'Cuz you think there's monsters?" She blinks in surprise. "But... there are!" For all children knew that to be the truth. "Yeah, so?" "Well...what if they come and...eat me?" The cool night air reaches through her cotton pajamas and she shivers, hugging herself. He waves his hand dissmissively. "They won't." "Why not?" "'Cuz you're with me," he replies, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. She blinks again. "You'll...protect me?" "Sure, why not?" Her worried frown eases a little. "Promise?" "Promise. I'm not gonna let no stupid monsters get ya," he says, puffing up his chest. "Never?" "Never, ever."
She moves around in her sleep, like she's having a dream or something. And it doesn't look like a good one. But it's not like I can do anything, like go in there and comfort her or something. As if I weren't in a bad enough position already; I'd definitely get in trouble for sneaking into her room in the middle of the night. Or morning. Whatever. The moonlight, though, it hits me on the way to her window, and I can see my shadow on her bed. And when I move my hand, it almost looks like I'm there. Like I'm touching her cheek. And it looks like...like she relaxes, a little. It's probably just my imagination, but I don't care. It seems to help. Don’t be afraid of the dark, Keiko. I'm here. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. |