My Real Imaginary Friend

Chapter 1.

'Mr. Bless-you'

"Kaoru!"

My book was snatched out of my fingers, and I looked up stunned, but when I saw whom it was I just peered back down with a sigh.

"You fucking retard!" the loud voice howled at me, making me swallow. "Why don't you just learn your place and stay away from us?" my book was slammed back on the table, making me leap slightly. I looked up at the one speaking; he was tall, with a crude expression, dirty-blonde locks hanging messily around his face and pitch-black eyes. Why couldn't he just leave me alone?

It had been like this for as long as I could remember. Sometimes I wish I could just hide from all my classes, because I knew no one would notice – or care – not even my teachers. I wasn't exactly an A+ student, nor was I a prime-example in attendance.

"Look at me!" the crude blonde demanded, but I ignored him.

I had though someone cared for me a long time ago. When I was a kid, I had met this one person who had been traveling with his family, Hikaru, was his name. We had looked a lot alike, but when we told our parents that we had found a friend that came across exactly like us, they would simply laugh, thinking we had an imaginary friend.

How I missed Hikaru. But he had gone back home, and his family hadn't visited the town since. He had had foster-parents like myself, and I had for the first time had someone I could talk to about it.

"Hey dork! I'm speaking to you!" the guy uttered again, I hadn't bothered remembering his name, but I think it was something with an, 'S'. I sighed deeply and grabbed my book from where he had slammed it on my desk. People often say that I lived in my own little world, but I didn't bother listening to them.

"You have some nerve!" he uttered maliciously. "Aren't you listening?"

"No, I heard you," I said in my most monotone voice and opened the book again. I noticed that a few people had started to crowd behind him – his little gang of protectors; because a guy like me would totally rip him apart if they weren't there, pfft!

"I have a question for you," he said, changing his tone when he realized that people were watching now. He casually sat on my desk, staring at me with malevolent eyes. "Why in the world would you think you could talk to my girlfriend?"

I leveled my eyes with his. "I didn't. She asked me for help with her assignment, herself."

"But you gave it to her, Kaoru!" he snarled back, grabbing me instantly by the collar. I let out a gasp when I was forced halfway across the table. My book feel limply to the floor and I twisted my lips in a frown. God, he always had such a bad temper. "If you ever as much as speak to my girl again, I'll rip your throat out of your mouth, you freak."

I would like to see that. "Fine." I said simply and unleashed his fingers from my collar, correcting my clothes nonchalantly. His lips spread in a smirk, showing off his yellow teeth.

"Good, And by the way," he said, suddenly changing to a darker shade. "I heard a rumor about you." Oh man, here it comes. What have I done this time; had sex with a teacher? Something about my family? Did my foster-father sleep drunk on the school area again? Or did anyone hear my foster-mother mumble vulgar language in public?

"You cut yourself on the schools bathroom, don't you?" he asked me with a smirk.

The question took me off guard – that was a new one. I rolled my eyes, but before I could deny it, the teacher walked in. And Mr. Bad Temper gave me a last curious glare before he walked off to his seat.

The teacher began to talk, and I once again let myself drift into my book.

oOo

"I'm home," I murmured quietly as I opened the front door. I mentally prayed for no response and it seemed like the higher powers was merciful today, because the house remained silent.

I lived with my foster parents – who hated me. No, I mean hated me. My foster-father never denied a chance to beat me up, and my foster-mother was just… quiet. She never said a word, just walked around and cleaned our tiny home, mumbling to herself softly. She was almost the worst of them.

I ran upstairs quickly and threw my bag on the floor of my miniature room. A bed, and a drawer for clothes mostly occupied my room … oh, and not to forget the light bulb hanging from the ceiling. So, as you can hear, I didn't have much space to walk around. The only thing that showed signs of teenage life was the many, no, tons of books that I had by the end of my bed – since there were no other room for them.

I sighed and took a minuet to just take the weight off my feet on the bed. I had never had anyone at my house, except that one kid, Hikaru. I missed him a lot. Which was laughable. I had only known him for about a week, but we had just… clicked. It had been like a single person actually bothered. Actually cared.

Like ... one person had stepped into my world.

I opened my drawer from my seat on the bed and dug into the sweaters to retrieve a blank razorblade that I had taken from the bathroom. Stolen, I guess, nothing in the house belonged to me. My father had been furious when it had been gone, almost trashing the house, but I had hid it well.

And before you judge! I had never tried cutting myself. Not yet that is, but I often took the blade out of the drawer and looked at it. Measured the blank blade, noticed the details and felt the metal rest in my hands. People said that pain took pain away. I often wondered-

'BANG!'

I flinched in alarm, snapping out of my thoughts, and felt my eyes widened to double size. My father was home. I frantically hid the blade under a few shirts.

"Boy? Where the hell are you?" he shouted loudly, he sounded drunk. It usually wouldn't affect the energy of his punches, but it would make him more nasty and malicious.

"Didn't ya hear me?" he yelled, impatiently. It seemed like he had had a rough day and needed someone to take his stress out on – that someone would most often be my rips and I.

And they had just healed so well.

I hurried down the stairs, seeing my mute foster-mother walk by with her very few groceries; with her head timidly bend forward. The Mute Lady. That is what I called her in my head. I had named her when I was very young, and just kept it. I had never said it out loud though.

When I reached the end of the stairs, a sudden hand flung out and connected harshly with my face. I gasped out. My eyes rolling to the back of my head in surprise. I stumbled a few steps back, one hand resting on my cheek, while the metallic taste of blood slowly filled my mouth.

"Didn't you hear me?" my foster-father said coldly. "What were you doing upstairs?"

"H-homework," I lied weakly, straightening up. He waved a hand for me to come closer and I hurried to obey. My foster-mother stood inaudibly in the door, with an expressionless face.

Slap!

"How are you doing in school?"

"Fine, I-"

Slap!

"That's not an answer."

I swallowed, already feeling my cheek heating up in pain. If someone says, that a slap doesn't hurt, they haven't been hit hard enough. And they definitely hadn't been hit by my foster-father. I had gotten a habit of clenching my teeth together when I was around him, because you never knew when a fist would strike. Clenching your teeth would prevent you from biting your tongue; I had learned that the hard way.

However, I hadn't been prepared for that first slap. But I had only bitten my cheek, and that didn't hurt as much.

"I need a drink," the already drunken man said to himself and rubbed his face with a hand. "Get me a drink!" he shouted toward my foster-mother, who nodded rapidly before disappearing into the kitchen.

I stood frozen on the stair, not knowing if I was allowed to leave yet.

"Run off," he demanded after a while, and I gratefully headed for the door, flinging the door open and running outside. If I was in the house for long he would soon want to hit me some more, so it was better to get away from here as fast as possible. Grabbing my gray scarf on the way out, to prevent questions about my bruised cheek.

The library was probably still open.

oOo

"Hello Kaoru, aren't you the wet one," the librarian greeted cheerfully when I entered. I exhaled a breath of relief and gave her a quick nod and smile in return. I was soaked to the bone from the weather outside - not even having time to get a jacket on as I had bailed. But that didn't matter, because I was home.

The smell of new books, the warmth from the heater, the people sitting calmly around. This was my favorite place to be. If I was just quiet enough I could go unnoticed for hours.

"How are you dear?" the elderly librarian asked me.

"Good," I lied and tugged my gray scarf a little closer to hide my bruised cheek. "And you?"

"Couldn't be better. We just got a new collection of novels in the corner. I thought of you when I saw a particular one, I think you know what it is," she informed me and she laughed happily when the light bloomed in my eyes.

"The sequel is out?" I spat happily and ruffled my wet hair a little, before I hurried to the corner she had gestured toward. I had been waiting for this book for almost two months. I almost leaped out in joy when I saw the familiar fond of the next book in my favorite series. I snatched it quickly, as in fear that someone would appear from the side and grab it before me.

Then, I found my favorite chair in the very end of the library, between two tall shelves, totally isolated from the rest of the place and smiled as I opened the precious novel. The smell of new book surrounded me, and I gladly let myself get pulled into the world the writer had written. So, for a while, I allowed myself to just read. I relaxed my tensed jaw and shoulders. And I continued to read, until something very small, but life-changing happened.

I felt a tinkle in my nose.

Oh no, I was going to sneeze! I hated that, I hated when people looked my way, but I couldn't stop it.

"ACHOO!" I exclaimed, and tried to kill it by holding a hand over my face.

"Bless you," a gentle tone told me, and I look up stunned by the closeness of the voice. He seemed to stand behind the wall of books beside me, so I couldn't see his face, but he clearly heard my jump by the creaking of the chair.

"Sorry, did I startle you?" the stranger apologized. What? Wait, No one ever apologized to me?

"No, it's fine and thank you," I murmured back.

"Thank you? For what?"

"For saying 'bless you'."

"Oh, you're welcome," he laughed and took a step around the bookshelf. We both tensed a little in surprise when our eyes met. My mouth opened slightly and I measured him with my eyes. If his clothes hadn't been different, his hair styled in neat spikes, and his eyes glowing so much brighter than mine I would have called him a mirror image of myself.

Still with my mouth slightly ajar I furrowed my eyebrows. "Are you-"

"Are you-," he said at the exactly same time, and we both paused on the same word.

"You are!" he both chorused, but stopped. "Okay that's creepy," we both uttered. The other person smiled widely and before I could react he had put a hand over my mouth.

"You're Kaoru, right?" he concluded. I was still startled from his movement, and nodded timidly. His hands were so warm and soft; I doubted that his punches would even hurt. His eyes seemed to brighten and he moved his hand from my mouth. "Do you remember me? We played together as kids."

Of course I did! I have actually just thought about you today. You're Hikaru! God! I'm so happy to see you!

But of course I didn't burst out like that. Instead I simply nodded again, caressing my face where he had touched me. But then remembered to tug my scarf up, hiding the bruise from earlier. Hikaru didn't seem to have noticed.

He took a step back and grinned. "You still look exactly like me. I have always wondered if it was just because 'kids look alike', but we're like twins. So weird," he said, leaning closer toward me.

My mouth twisted in a frown and I winced slightly. I wasn't used to people being kind to me … or close to me. So, I was unsure how to respond, but I felt so dumb just standing there.

"Y-yeah, you're Hikaru," I said, and that seemed to be all Hikaru needed to keep talking.

"That's right! I have thought a lot about you, actually. I'm so happy that I ran into you here," he gestured to the library. "I wondered if you still lived in this town – I'm happy you do."

I felt my lips lift slightly. "I'm happy to see you t-"

"Kaoru!"

My mouth closed shut and I turned around startled, dropping my book on the floor with a small thud. Hikaru's eyes twisted in confusion and flung to the thing that had startled me.

Before I could turn all the way around someone harshly grabbed my arm. I let out a stunned gasp, but didn't have a chance to resist when my mother yanked me with her.

"What do you think you're doing here?" she hissed out. I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment, I couldn't believe she had come to get me in a public place – and in front of the first person that I actually cared about seeing it.

"I was just reading," I mumbled, feeling Hikaru's eyes dig into the back of my head.

"Your father have been asking for you," she sighed, pulling me along. Her fingers were tight around my wrist and I had a hard time not showing it.

I glanced back at Hikaru who clearly looked taken aback.

"Are you listening?" My foster-mother snapped, shaking me. I snatched my gaze away from Hikaru and nodded.

"You're always so much trouble," my mother hissed out, shaking me more.

I nodded again, tiredly, feeling my scarf drop down around my neck as I did so. Hikaru's eyes widened when he saw the slightly blue-yellowish mark on the side of my face. I noticed his stare and hurried to adjust it back without a word.

"H-hold on," I heard Hikaru mutter stunned, but my mother had already yanked me along. I allowed myself to fling my eyes toward him a last time. He stood absolutely frozen behind us, with my book in his hands. I stared longingly at it, but decided that it would be idiotic to turn back.

Hikaru's golden eyes didn't leave my form for one second while I was dragged out.

Once outside the library, I stumbled forward, trying to get into my foster-mothers pace so I wouldn't look too much like, a child being pulled along by his angry mother.

I finally managed to walk beside her, much to her disdain. She let go of my arm with an angry yank as we reached the car. Or rather: A small, old, red box with wheels. It was parked in a rush, just on the other side of the library.

"Get in!" she demanded, although I had already opened the door.

"Wait! Kaoru!" A sudden voice erupted from across the street. I lifted my gaze, seeing Hikaru sprinting out of the library and toward us. My mother exhaled an angry sigh, not even bothering to look toward the voice and got into the car – expecting me to do the same – but I paused.

Hikaru conquered the small distance between us in a few long strides and I instinctively tugged my scarf closer to my face, making him frown slightly, but he shook it off.

"Here!" he spat when he reached me, holding a square form toward me.

I held his gaze shortly before looking down, and my eyes brightened. "My book."

"Yeah, you didn't seem to be done, so I got it for you," he said, smiling again, but this time it seemed sad and… forced.

"Kaoru! Get in here!" My mother hollered from the front seat.

Hikaru's smile disappeared completely. I made a move toward the car, but Hikaru's arm caught my wrist, his eyes flickered nervously. "Kaoru, can I just ask you one last question."

I furrowed my eyebrows, looking at my mother from the corner of my eyes, but then slowly nodded.

"How did that-" he poked his own cheek lightly, the exact same place I had my bruise. "How did that happen?"

I sighed, looking at the ground then back at him. "I fell."

"Kaoru!" my mother yelled impatiently.

"I'm coming," I mumbled, turning my back to Hikaru. "I really am happy to see you too, but I got to go." I mumbled before getting into the car.

But once again he grabbed my arm. "You didn't fall, did you?"

I pressed my lips together and looked away. "Yes, I really did. Sorry, but I really need to go, thanks for the book," I simply mumbled, and Hikaru hesitantly let my arm slip between his fingers. Giving me a last small smile.

"You're welcome. Hey, I really hope we met again. I have a lot to tell you."

I returned the smile with a smaller one. "Me too."

I closed the door quickly and looked back at him from the car-window; he had obviously not swallowed my lie about falling, judging from his expression.

My foster-mother started the car, and it roared awake. I quietly looked at Hikaru a last time, our eyes connecting to a level that scared me. I had never looked anyone in the eyes for as long as I held Hikaru's gaze. However our eye-contact was broken when the car started rolling down the street and the auburn-haired boy disappeared in the horizon.

oOo

My foster-father had been horribly drunk that night. I stood in the shower and blood was dripping from my arms, legs, and back. One of the worst places to get hurt is your back because if you're like me and have to take care of it yourself it isn't easy.

I just can't wait for this day to end. My foster-mother told me to stay home from school tomorrow so the cuts could close a little and it wouldn't look as bad when I went to school. But. As much as I hated going to school I would rather go there than stay here.

oOo

Hikaru Hitachiin looked up at the new school and his lips cracked in a smile. A new place, new victims to play with, new teachers to prank and new people to meet. He was so ready for this.

With determined steps he walked to the main-entrance, pulling the strap of his backpack a little up his shoulder.

However, he hadn't taken more than one step inside the double doors, before a petite brunette walked in front of him, halting him to a stop. At first glance he thought the person was a guy, but when his eyes trailed to her clothing he quickly lifted an eyebrow.

"Are you Hikaru?" she asked. Straight to the point. He pulled his eyes off her form, to her eyes - that kind of reminded him of chocolate - and smiled.

"I am."

She stretched her hand toward him. "Hallo, I'm Haruhi Fujioka and I-" she suddenly trailed off, and her eyes widened slightly. He looked at her face with a questioning expression.

"Do I have something on my face?" he tested with a hesitant smile, stroking his cheek lightly.

Her hand fell and chocolate orbs twisted in confusion. "No, you don't. Hey, are you related to Kaoru?"

Sudden realization brightened in the teens eyes and he smiled. "Oh, does Kaoru go to this school? That's great. I'm a childhood friend of his."

She tilted her head slightly. "He does, but you look more like a brother than a friend. Your faces are exactly the same."

"Yeah, we've been told," Hikaru said with a smile. "Our parents even mistook us once."

"So weird," she deadpanned. Hikaru laughed inwardly and ran a hand through his spikes.

"Yeah," he pulled the word out, and then smiled. "Let's start over." He stretched his hand toward her. "Hi, I'm Hikaru Hitachiin, an only-child."

She returned his smile and took his hand. "I'm Haruhi Fujioka, and I'll show you around the school." She said, almost as if she had rehearsed that sentence a lot. "If you have questions, just ask."

"Great," Hikaru beamed, and slowly followed her down the halls. Everyone was already in their classes, except a few slackers here and there. The brunette started telling him about all the classrooms and hallways, but his mind was far from there. Kaoru was going to this school; it seriously couldn't get any better. He had never met a person he could relate to as much as when he had met Kaoru. He would do anything to maintain that relationship again. He actually couldn't wait to talk with him again.

"-And this is the hall to the physic-"

"Hey, can I ask you something?" he suddenly piped in. "What class will I be going to?"

"4B, my class," she mumbled, a little unhappy to be interrupted.

"What class is Kaoru in?"

"Um, our class too."

"Really?" Hikaru smiled widely. "That's great."

Haruhi looked dumbfounded by that response, and Hikaru's smile slowly faded into confusion. "What is it?" he questioned.

"Oh," Haruhi spat, shaking her head. "Sorry, I'm being single-minded. It's just. I have just never heard anyone say that they… you know, was close to … Kaoru."

Hikaru's frown changed to utter perplexity. "What do you mean?"

Haruhi looked uncomfortable. "Well, Kaoru doesn't really have any friends here. Not that he's trying," she added the last part quietly. "He has always been very… stuffy. He never let's anyone into his head. Never asks for help from anyone, although he clearly needs it."

Hikaru halted to a stop. "What do you mean by, 'needs it'?"

oOo

I was all alone when I woke up, but that suited me perfectly. I awoke when the door slamming shut downstairs, and just lay there, listening to the silence for a while. When I was completely sure that no one was in the house, I sat up with a pained breath.

I glanced out the tiny window beside my bed. The sun was halfway up the sky outside, meaning that school had already started, but I was not going. My back was still aching from yesterday, and I had to use all my willpower to get into a sitting position on my bed. I unbolted the window and let the cool wind stream into my room. The air was damp, so it had probably rained all night.

I let my feet slowly caress the bare wooden floor, lifting myself up with my hands. It felt like my legs weighted a hundred pounds at that moment, caused by the still sore wounds on my body. They weren't hurting anymore; they were just stinging, which were almost worse.

Carefully and deliberately, I staggered to the bathroom, splashing water in my face once I reached the sink, but as usual I avoided the mirror. I hate looking at myself; a pale, wide-eyed, skinny teen with bruises and lacerations all over. No, not a sight I needed.

My stomach rumbled, and I realized that I hadn't eaten anything since yesterday, at all. And it's not like I have been over-feed the day before that, either.

I quickly ran downstairs, skipping two steps at the time on the stair, and opened the fridge eagerly once in the kitchen. Empty. Of course it was. Perfect. I slammed it shut again, sighing.

And I had thought this day would be good. My stomach rumbled again, as to underline my thoughts, but I could only rub it sadly. I had no money to buy food, so my only option was to wait for my foster-parents to get home, which didn't exactly thrill me. I never liked asking them for anything, but I was starving.

I decided to walk it off. The weather was matching my mood perfectly as I came outside. Grey clouds were floating in from the south, slowly encapsulating the sun, and suffocating the sunshine with their dark forms.

I wandered down my street, avoiding the puddles of water, with my usual grey scarf tugged over half of my face to cover the bruise. I was trying to get my mind off my roaring stomach, but it seemed almost impossible. Especially when I approached the main-street. The streets that was walled with shops. Clothes, shoes, jewels, furniture and… food.

I halted to a stop by the local bakery. The smell of newly made bread and pastries filled my nostrils, sending sweet sensations through my head and making my mouth water.

My hands pressed against the glass and I literally stared at the mouthwatering foods. I wondered how it would feel to sink my teeth into the soft surface, feeling the sugary taste of bread fill my mouth, and the feeling of the creamy inside that reached my tongue and… no!

I forced my eyes off the window. I shouldn't temp myself with something like that. I let my palms slowly slide down the glass in misery. My foster parents would never buy me something so absolutely delicious. Never.

I lifted my eyes again, lingering on the treats once more. That's when a horrible thought struck me. I could just take them. The owner definitely wouldn't notice if I took a single piece of something. I was starving, and he had so much anyway. Nobody would get hurt, but I would get much better. How was that bad?

I swallowed, walking slowly toward the door. To my horror a light bell chimed above my head when I entered and I almost dashed back out. However, a cheerful "hallo", paused me, and I stood frozen in the door.

"What would you like, dear?" an elderly woman asked me, smiling, from behind the counter. 'She is old', I thought. Her face was filled with soft wrinkles and her hair was as white as snow. Her smile was pleasant, as if she would think the best of even the worst criminal. How could I steal from a woman like that?

My stomach roared loudly in response and I gritted my teeth. The woman chuckled lightly.

"You seem hungry," she concluded. "What can I give you?"

I shook my head slowly. "I'm just… looking."

She gave me a small smile and retreated to the back of the store. I almost gasped in disbelieve. She was just letting me stay here, unsupervised, with all these delicious foods. Her trust was almost unbearable.

But my mind went blank from those thoughts when I looked down at the colorful deserts and steaming breads. My belly seemed to make flick-flacks, and I couldn't bear it. It was so... in reach.

As swiftly as I could, I lunged out toward a loaf of bread. It was plain, with a few seeds on top, and it surely wouldn't be missed, since there was an identical one behind it. Speaking of identical…

"Kaoru?"

I let out a stunned yelp when the sound of the bell went off again, and spun around, with the bread in my hands. A boy, who had my exact facial features, stepped inside the bakery. His golden orbs found me instantly.

I stood as paralyzed. My eyes glowing with guilt, as I held my stolen goods. Hikaru stood still in the door as well, but he was the first to move forward with a friendly smile showing on his face. "Where were you today?"

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"I started going to the same school as you, and same class too."

"How do you know I'm in your class?"

"The teacher called your name, but you wasn't there."

"Oh."

"Which leads me back to my first question."
"I didn't feel like going."

"Why?"

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Why is it important?"

"Because I care about you," Hikaru shrugged. "You're my long lost childhood friend."

That took me off guard; no one had ever said that they 'cared about me'. It kind of made me… happy. However, that didn't mean that I would tell him the truth.

"I felt sick this morning." I lied, but Hikaru only rolled his eyes.

"If you're going to lie to me all the time - which is a pain by the way - you need to work on your pokerface, it's horrible," he told me, grinning, but I didn't return the smile.

"I should go," I mumbled, starting to walk toward the exit, but Hikaru grabbed my arm. "What n-" I began, but stopped when I suddenly looked into austere eyes.

"Aren't you going to pay for that?" his eyes were not judging, simply confused. I didn't know what to do. I deeply wished that Hikaru had met me some other place, some other time. I wanted to talk to him; I wanted to listen to him, like when we were kids. But he seemed to appear on the worst possible times, and my first impression was screwed for good. And I was just so hungry.

So. I panicked. With a quick twist of my wrist I broke free from his hold and sprinted out of the door, getting a short glimpse of his startled expression from the corner of my eye. The bell rung out angrily behind me, but I ignored it and kept running. The bread clung to my chest.

"Kaoru!" I heard him yell after me, but I ignored it, running like a convict with his stolen gems. The crust of the bred crumbled slightly under my stern grasp. I was feeling a horrible pain in my chest, almost similar to when Hikaru had left the town last time.

That's when a roaring sound echoed behind me, and I almost ran into a car. The black Ferrari came out of nowhere, and with squealing tires blocked my path. I manage to save my grace by landing both my hands on the front, but watched in horror as my bread fell to the ground.

5-second rule! I quickly scoped up the bread, staggering away from the car, but Hikaru has already stepped out and stood with his hands crossed over his chest. Somehow, this makes me pause.

"Get. In."

"Wha-"

"Get in!" he demanded a little louder.

"No, I-"

"You have bruises," he suddenly exclaims, and I quickly touched my face. My scarf had fallen off again. Perfect. Hikaru took a few long strides, standing right in front of me, making me recoil. "You're practically a mental mess, and you're stealing."

I opened my mouth to protest, but he didn't seem to be done. "I have seen this before. I have friends like you, but none of them have reached this point of break down. Please." His tone softened. "I want to help you. I want-"

"You don't know me!" I suddenly yelled, throwing the bread angrily at the ground without thinking. The food that should have reassured my survival, soaked up the water from the ground, and was now inedible. Hikaru paused, but I bet I was more stunned by that outburst than him. However, I wasn't done. "You don't know me anymore. You. Left!" I shouted, pointing at him. "I was all alone, because you left. You have no idea what I have been through. You have no idea. You! With your stupid fancy cars, and stupid designer clothes. You know nothing about me."

Hikaru mouth was slightly ajar. It annoyed me. Why did he look so surprised? Why did he look so hurt? I hadn't said anything wrong, I had just had enough of this act. He should know. He should know that I wasn't the same Kaoru as I was 10 years ago. I wasn't as innocent and kind. I was broken. I was – as he had said – "a mental mess" now.

I looked down, my voice suddenly breaking. "Just leave me alone. Everyone else knows how." I let out a gasp, when Hikaru's arms suddenly flung around me. "What are you doing?" I spat – stupid question, he was obviously hugging me, but why? I pressed my palms against his chest, but he just tightened his grip.

"Come home with me."

"What? No!" I exclaimed, struggling more. "Kaoru, I know your parents are abusive."

My eyes widened in shock for a moment, but then they instantly narrowed in wariness and I pulled out of his hands. "Who told you that?"

"I talked to some of your classmates. People talk a lot about you in school," he admitted.

"Sh-Shut up. They don't know what are you are talking about!"

"Kaoru, let me help you out of this, before you get hurt."

"Nothing is going to hurt me, but me. My parents aren't abusive and I don't want or need you fucking help. Can't you take a hint? I don't like you!"

"You don't have to go back there," he whispered. I stopped struggling, but gritted my teeth angrily.

"I have to."

"You don't!" Hikaru disagreed and suddenly leaded me toward his car. I stared at his huge designer car for a second. Hikaru would take me away, from everything. I exhaled silently. I really wanted to go with him, but-

"I can't," I mumbled. Hikaru was holding the car-door open for me, gesturing for me to go inside.

"I have missed you so badly, alright," Hikaru told me, his eyes looking slightly frustrated. "I was so excited when I saw you in the library. I have missed you. I know we were only children, but I feel like… you're the only one that understands me completely. Even, if you're not the one who knows me the best. Kaoru, you want to go with me too, don't you?"

I felt my eyes drop.

"I know, alright! I do! But I can't," I said miserably. "My foster parents, they will-" I stopped myself from saying "punish me", and instead just stared at my feet. I heard Hikaru slam the door shut, but I kept looking at my feet. I had trained my eyes for years not to cry. I never cried when I was hit, or scolded, not when I was bullied or picked on, but I really had to use all of my concentration at the moment. Why?

My head was without warning lifted by a pair of warm hands, and my face forced to look into serious golden orbs, matching my own, but still so different in confidence.

"I will not let you go back there." His hand snatched my wrist, again, and I made a hissing sound in disdain.

I tried to pull away from him but he wouldn't let me. I sighed in annoyance, trying out with a different tone, since I would break down if I yelled again. "Hikaru. Let me go. Thank you for the offer, but I am going to go back and there is nothing you can do about it."

"At least stay at my house for tonight."

"I can't I have plans," I lied. Hikaru opened his mouth again, but was interrupted by a light ringtone sounding from my pocket and I grabbed my phone with my free hand, tensing when I saw the caller ID. I fumbled with the device for a second, before stutteringly answering with a short. "Hallo?"

"Where the hell are you?"

I swallowed. It was my foster-father and he sounded drunk. "I- I'm almost home."

"Get home. Now!"

"I will-" I mumbled, but he had already hung up. I let my hand with the phone drop and looked back at Hikaru. I needed to get home, and I needed to get home now. But Hikaru didn't seem to let me unless I compromised things. "Will you met me here tomorrow," I mumbled, using a new tactic.

Hikaru lifted an eyebrow. "Met you?"

"Yes, I'll give you an answer tomorrow," I whispered. "About going home with you, I mean."

Hikaru licked his lips in deep thoughts, but then he seemed to soften. "Okay." He mumbled, releasing my arm. "I'll be here tomorrow after school, until you get here."

I nodded slowly, not mentioning that I had no intentions of showing up.

Alright, after this super long pause I have finally produced something again. xD I have used a totally new writing style than I usually do, so I'm excited to see what you guys think. :)

Please review for the love of cookies! :D