The dorm room was quiet except for the faint sound of rain tapping against the window. Haruna sat on the edge of their shared bed, brushing her long orange hair with slow strokes. Kikidori sat across from her on the floor, back against the window frame, his head down, bangs shadowing his eyes. The dim lamp between them cast a golden glow over the small room, making Haruna's hair look like fire dancing in the dark. She glanced at him with tired eyes, her green irises shimmering softly under the light.
"Dori-kun…" she whispered, her voice heavy with sleep. "You're really quiet today… even quieter than usual…"
He didn't answer. He simply sat there, staring at the floor, the upside down cross on his middle finger dark against his pale skin. Haruna watched him for a while, her eyelids drooping slightly. She put her hairbrush down and crawled across the bed to sit closer to him, her knees touching his. She reached out, her soft fingers brushing his cold hand. She felt the roughness of his skin where he drew the crosses every morning, the ink sometimes mixing with faint cuts he reopened just to feel something. Anything.
"Did something happen at school today…?" she asked softly, her voice filled with worry. "Or… did someone say something to you…? You can tell me, you know…"
He remained silent, his chest rising and falling steadily. She waited, hoping for a response, but none came. Her heart hurt every time he shut her out like this, but she knew forcing him to speak would only push him farther away. Instead, she squeezed his hand lightly, offering silent comfort.
"It's okay, Dori-kun…" she whispered, her voice fading as sleep began to pull her under. "I just… want you to be happy… you know… even if… you're quiet…"
Her words slurred as her head bobbed forward. She blinked rapidly, trying to keep her eyes open, but exhaustion washed over her like a warm tide. Kikidori finally lifted his gaze, his dark eyes staring into her sleepy ones. For a brief moment, his dead eyes softened, almost as if there was still something human left in him.
"Sleep," he said in a low, flat voice.
"But… I wanna stay up with you…" she mumbled, her head resting against his chest as her body slumped forward, completely giving in to sleep. Her breathing deepened, slow and peaceful, her warm breath fanning against his black school shirt. Kikidori sat still for a moment, feeling the steady beat of her heart against him, the warmth of her body pressing into his cold one. She was so small. So soft. So… breakable.
Slowly, he moved his arms around her and lifted her gently off the floor. Her head lolled against his shoulder, her hair tickling his cheek as he stood. He carried her to the bed, laying her down with careful movements as if she was porcelain. He pulled the fluffy pink blanket over her slender frame, tucking it under her shoulders so she wouldn't get cold in the night. Her hair spread across the white pillow, bright against its emptiness, her lips parted slightly as she breathed softly.
He stood there for a moment, just staring at her peaceful face. Her long lashes cast shadows on her pale cheeks, her lips pink and warm. She looked like an angel fallen asleep on earth. Leaning down, Kikidori pressed his lips to her forehead lightly. Her skin was warm beneath his cold lips, almost burning him with its gentle life.
"Sleep well… angel," he whispered, his voice so low it was almost inaudible.
He pulled away and straightened, turning towards the small desk in the corner of the room. His black jacket lay folded neatly over the chair. He picked it up and slipped his arms into the sleeves, pulling the hood over his head. His fingers brushed against the upside down cross on his middle finger. He clenched his fist around it, feeling the inked lines dig into his palm as if it were carved there.
He glanced back at Haruna one last time, her chest rising and falling with each peaceful breath. She would never know. Never know what he was. Who he was. What he did after she fell asleep. The monster that crawled out of his body the moment the sun disappeared.
Turning away, he walked to the door and unlocked it with a soft click. The hallway outside was dark, only lit by emergency red lights that made the walls look like they were bleeding. Kikidori stepped out into the darkness, the door closing silently behind him.
Outside, the rain poured harder, tapping against the windows like skeletal fingers. He walked down the empty hall, his footsteps silent against the old wooden floors. Each step took him farther away from the warmth of his dorm room and deeper into the darkness that called to him every night.
Because while everyone else slept peacefully under their blankets, dreaming sweet dreams about love and youth…
Kikidori had work to do.
Because the devil does not sleep.
The End of Chapter 2
Fun Fact: If you lift a kangaroo's tail off the ground, it can't hop.
I really don't know why I have you that info but I just decided it would be funny to give you a fact or joke every chapter to... Y'know... Be fun... Think of it like Snapple and Laffy Taffy 👍..... Uh..... Ehem... Definitely not just saying that to make chapter longer just like... Tryna y'know lighten the mood
BYE