FOOLS BLOOD

 "Rui! Rui! It's almost time for school!" My grandmother called for me from her station at the front desk.

 Because of what happened last night, I tossed and turned all night long. Kaito's terrified face was now seared into my brain and my stomach twisted so much I felt sick.

 I really don't want to go.

 "Wakey wakey, little baby," Kana chirped while he playfully poked at my cheek. "It sounds like the morning hen is calling for her chick, don't you think?"

 My eyes fluttered open. With a groan I sat up and loathed the day that had yet to start. "What are you doing awake at this hour? It's still daylight out—" As I glanced over at him, to my surprise, I saw that Kana didn't sport his regular old kimono.

 He adorned our inn's staff uniform, a solid blue samue worn by the men who worked at my family's hot springs.

 "Ah! I spot that curious look! What do you think? Even I can make something this drab look this good." Kana twirled and posed as if the paparazzi was taking photos of him.

 I rolled my eyes and looked away. "Still doesn't answer why you're dressed like that."

 "Your grandmother asked for my help while you're away at school. I couldn't possibly say no to such a beautiful young woman." The way he smiled and winked made me even more nauseated.

 Considering how old he was, I guess my grandmother was young in his eyes.

 "Jeez, can't you ever be serious? I swear, you're either a total douche or act like a child."

 Kana stared at me blankly. He leaned against my bed, his head propped up on his arm. "My fault. I thought I would start the day off cheery, but if you prefer I act like your master rather than your friend, I'm willing to comply." His dead stare sent shockwaves throughout my body.

 "We can talk about what happened last night if that's what you want. Or we could take my approach and just enjoy the day. There's no point lingering on something that's natural for our kind."

 'Our kind.' The way he already weaved me into his world is something I needed to get used to.

 "Well, it's not natural to me," I said and swung my legs over the side of my bed.

 "But it will be."

 I brushed past him, there was nothing else left to say. I stared at my reflection in the mirror one more time, reluctantly acknowledging the stranger who slowly became more like an acquittance. I then opened my drawer to put on my school uniform that already began collecting dust.

 Ever since I started to change, the uniform that once fit me perfectly had become snugger, and tight in all the wrong places. The fabric clung to my shoulders, my chest—proof of my new body, a body that didn't feel like mine anymore.

 After I washed my face and brushed my teeth, I picked up my school bag. "You better behave yourself, Kana. I don't exactly trust you being alone with my grandma, so watch it." I shot him a dangerous look, but Kana was unphased.

 "I could say the same thing about you, fool." No longer was he being playful.

 I recognized that tone. I slowly turned my head, and Kana's eyes glowed with authority.

 "You better watch yourself around those humans. If you lose control again, I won't be there to save you."

 I didn't need him to remind me, I was all too aware of that. This scary new power of mine, it was dangerous. "I understand. I'll make sure it won't happen again." But did I really believe that?

 I slipped so easily last time, who knows what will set me off if I do lose control again.

 Kana studied me for a while then sighed. "Get going. I'm capable on my own. Just how do you think I managed to survive five hundred years?"

 I asked myself that question constantly. If it wasn't for Kana relying on me for his every need, I wondered how he ever managed to do anything by himself up until now.

 "Rui!" my grandmother shouted one more time.

 "I'm coming!" I rushed out the door and met her at the entrance. The minute I saw her my heart eased a little. She was my everything. She was the woman who raised me and gave me love when no one else did. She was my most precious thing.

 She waddled her way over to me and patted me on the shoulders. "My, look how you've grown! I swear it was only yesterday you were down by my knees."

 I smiled, solemnly. If only she knew the truth about my sudden growth spurt. "Yeah, time sure does fly by fast, doesn't it?"

 She nodded her head and from behind her desk pulled out my lunchbox to set down on the table. "You go on now. And I hope you have a good day at school! I'm sure your friends missed you!"

 Friends, huh? I shook my head to dismiss the thought. Before I left the front door I turned around one more time and glimpsed at her wonderful smile. "Have a good day!" I shouted before I ran to meet the bus.

 "Wait! Rui, you forgot your lunch!" my grandmother shouted, but I was already gone.

***

 Thankfully it wasn't that hot. The clouds were overcast which meant the sun wouldn't be a problem for me. I looked out the window as the bus rolled into town. It wasn't much, just a small rural village where everyone knew everyone.

 Which meant that everyone knew me, the loser, the laughingstock and the nobody.

 The bus stopped and I got off. Infront of me was our towns only high school. The schoolyard bustled and I did my best to keep my head low and dashed for the entrance. Yet that couldn't stop the gossip that reached my delicate ears.

 "I heard he got beaten up."

 "No way! I heard Kaito got stabbed! Someone told me he was mugged!"

 "You guys shouldn't believe any of that crap!" shouted the girl who stood in the middle of the gossiping group of teens. "They're just rumors. The real crazy thing is what Kaito's doing right now!"

 Once I heard his name, I halted in my tracks.

 "Apparently, he's saying all kinds of crazy stuff, like a demon attacked him last night! Swears up and down a monster that cried blood with a knife tried to kill him. Like, come on! I always knew that guy was on drugs or something."

 How could he possibly remember that? Kana erased their memories—I was sure of it!... Or maybe not. Now that I think about it, Kaito was already passed out before Kana used his spell. Shit! We overlooked him!

 With even more of a reason to rush inside, I raced down the hall, my heels striking the floor in a frantic rhythm.

 Just how much did he remember? Does he know that it was me? Just what the hell is he telling everyone for these types of rumors to be spreading around so quickly?

 I turned the corner to my homeroom, and already the chaos from inside echoed down the cluttered hallway. Kaito's voice was loud and clear even without my super hearing.

 "There's demon's walking among us! With eyes that glow red and their tears made of blood! I swear on my life that it's true! I'm just trying to warn you all that there's a monster out there!"

 When I opened the door to my homeroom, Kaito stood at the teacher's podium with a deranged look in his eyes. As he continued to prattle on, our other classmates just stared at him as if he was a mad man.

 "I'm telling the truth! Why won't any of you believe me?" His eyes locked onto mine and my body became stiff, sweat dripping down my forehead.

 Kaito shoved the podium to the side and stomped over to me, grabbing me by the collar of my shirt. "You were there! I remember seeing your face that night! Tell them the truth! You saw the monster too, didn't you, Rui?"

 "Uhm, I uh…" I looked around anxiously, all eyes were on us now. Kaito really looked like he had lost his mind, but it was clear that not all his memories were intact. He knew of the monster, just not that the monster was me.

I needed to be careful with what I said or else I risked making the situation even worse. "N–no. I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about—"

 "Yes! You do! Now tell them Rui, or I'll make you."

 "I don't! Please, stop… You're scaring everyone," I pleaded.

 WHAM.

 Kaito punched me straight in the jaw and everyone watching gasped. I spat out the blood that had pooled in my mouth onto the floor and glared at him.

 He must have seen something in my eyes, something terrible, because the fear that had haunted him that night was now reflected on his face.

 "Trust me when I tell you, you don't want to try that again." My eyes narrowed and I easily pushed him off me.

 Kaito fell back and crashed into a group of chairs. "You son of a!" he shouted, scrambling to his feet and brushing himself off. "Just who do you think you are to push me around? Did you forget who I am! I own you, bitch!"

 My senses sharpened, and everything else faded into the background. The chatter in the classroom, the footsteps of students rushing down the hall to watch the drama unfold—it all disappeared. Now, all I saw was Kaito.

 He rushed for me, but I tracked every one of his movements with ease. It was like he was moving in slow-motion. I side stepped him when he came at me with a right hook.

 "Ow!" Kaito exclaimed, his fist slamming into the wall instead of me, injuring himself.

 But I wasn't done with him, and neither was he. He let out a low, almost animalistic growl and rushed at me again.

 Once more, it was like time had slowed down. I dodged, swinging around behind him. I grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back, then shoved him down against a desk to keep him from moving.

 "You need to calm down! Don't you even see what you're doing? You're causing a scene!" I tried reasoning with him, but his aggravated state kept him from listening.

 "What is going on in here?" Suddenly, our teacher, Mister Yamada, rushed in. He stood between us and pulled me away from Kaito, who smiled at me as though I was the one in the wrong.

 "Kemmotsu! You have always been such a well-behaved student! For you to get into a fight like this—"

 "No, teach! You got it all wrong! It was all Kaito's fault! He punched Rui first! He was only defending himself!" a girl on the sidelines spoke up.

 In that moment, I reverted to my old, nervous self. One by one, people stood up and took my side. As they defended me, the tips of my ears burned red. My heart hammered in my chest. This had never happened to me before. No one had ever stood up for me.

 "Kaito was acting like a lunatic and took it out on Rui for no reason! Look at his poor face! He's bleeding!" The girl who spoke first ran over to me, dabbing my blood away with a handkerchief.

 Suddenly, I was surrounded by my peers—ones who had never acted like I existed before.

 Mister Yamada pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, turning his attention back to Kaito. "Since it's clear who started this fight, I have no choice but to take disciplinary action. Come with me, Kobayashi."

 As the two walked out of the class together, Kaito shot me one last glare. He didn't say it outright, but I could read his lips: 'You're so dead for this'.

 Once the drama had settled, I sighed and sank into my assigned seat. It was a miracle I had held myself back because if I'd gotten punched like that one more time, I might've really lost it.

 "That was freaking amazing, Rui!" a boy said excitedly who took a seat next to me.

 "Yeah, who knew you had moves likes that! It was so freaking badass! Like I was watching a spy in action, for real!"

 My face became the shade of a cherry tomato as the people who I wished talked to me now sat around me comfortably, asking questions as if we had been friends for years.

 "Oh, you know! I've been training here and there, trying to get stronger," I said, bashfully twiddling my fingers. "I couldn't let myself be his punching bag anymore, you know?"

 "Really? Well, what is your training regimen? Cause not only do you look stronger, but you're way cuter now, too!" I forgot her name—she was one of the best-looking girls in our class, but we'd never spoken before.

 "Or have you always looked like this? I could have sworn you were a short little dork, but now that I have a better look at you…" she said as she leaned in closer, brushing my hair out of my face. "You're pretty manly, huh?"

 My cheeks burned, and by now, my embarrassment meter was completely maxed out.

 Our casual conversations continued until Mister Yamada returned, this time without Kaito. "Kobayashi's on suspension until further notice! So, now that that's been sorted, everyone take your seats so that we can start today's lecture!"

***

 The bell for lunch finally rang, and before I could be swarmed by my newfound popularity, I managed to slip away unnoticed.

 I escaped to my home away from home—the school roof. Technically, nobody was allowed up there, but since everyone seemed to follow that rule, it was the only place I knew where I could find some peace and quiet.

 "Today has been one hell of a day," I groaned as I slumped against the wall and slid down to rest. "I was worried that today would go wrong, but I didn't think it would be this bad." I sighed and reached into my backpack to grab my lunchbox, but it wasn't there. "Wait, what the? My lunch!"

 Out of nowhere, I heard the chime of the bell—comforting yet somehow stressing me out. I looked up, and there, standing atop the guard rail at the edge of the roof in his regular kimono with a parasol in hand, was Kana. He perched there like a cat.

 "Are you crazy? The sun's still out!" I said, alarmed.

 "You worry too much. The sun's covered, and it's not like I didn't bring protection." He gestured to his umbrella. "Besides, I think you should be happier to see me. I didn't come for no reason, after all." Out from his sleeve he pulled out my lunchbox and tossed it to me.

 I snagged it, still confused. "So, you risked coming out in the sun just to bring me my lunch?"

 "Well, your grandmother was rather persistent on the matter, and I was on my break." Kana jumped down from the rail, landing without a sound aside from the bell in his hair. "For a cute little thing she sure knows how to put someone to work. Honestly! Do these hands look like they were made for scrubbing floors?"

 Somehow, that comment made me want to punch him in the face. There were four sides to my master: lazy, playful, mean and just straight-up sassy. It seemed like today I'd gotten the full dose of the latter.

 "Okay, that might be your excuse, but I know that's not the real reason you came out here," I said, narrowing my eyes in suspicion.

 "You'd be right," Kana grinned. "I also came here to check how my pupil is doing." He strolled over to me and grabbed my face, forcing me to meet his gaze. "I felt an influx of power coming from you earlier today. Had to make sure you didn't blow your cover like the fool that you are."

 I swatted his hand away, but I knew it was already too late—he was delving into my mind to figure out what had happened. "I handled it without revealing my powers," I muttered. "I had it under control."

 "Hm, did you now? Bravo, I guess you passed my test after all."

 I blinked. Then blinked gain. "Test? What test?"

 Kana grinned, but I could see the mischief lurking in those crimson eyes. "You didn't honestly think I would make such a careless mistake, did you? I would never leave a stone unturned."

 My blood began to boil. I shot to my feet, my eyes flashing a deep shade of red. "So, you didn't erase his memories on purpose? Why the hell would you do that?"

 "Calm down!" Kana shouted; his voice boomed like a royal decree.

 My shackles felt tight, and I fell to my knees.

 Kana glared at me, his piercing red eyes seemingly looking straight into my very soul. "It was a lesson. To teach you that there are consequences to your actions." He walked away from me and then jumped back on top of the railing.

Slowly, the sun started to peak between the clouds.

 "You need to finish the things that you start. I will not always be there to clean up your messes, so you need clean them up yourself," he looked at me over his shoulder. "So, how did it feel? To face the thing that you feared?"

 I stared at the ground, contemplating what his question meant to me. "It felt good. To stand up to him, to not act like the weakling I used to be."

 "Good. Remember this feeling, but don't ever let your composure slip. That was the point of all this." With that, he jumped off the roof.

 I instinctively ran and looked over the edge, but he was gone, just like that, a leaf drifting in the wind.

 I sighed and sank to my knees. "I'm sick of these mind games. If you're going to test me then at least tell me in advance." But I think I also understood the point of all this.

 In a fight, there's no time to think and there's no time to plan. All you can do is react, and while I passed his petty test, I somehow felt like I still failed in the end.

 I ran a hand through my wind tussled hair. The sun broke through the clouds, illuminating my deep-rooted scowl. "What would have happened… if things hadn't gone Kana's way?"