Follow the Leader(Continued; Torao)

[TSUKI YORU]

Tsuki paused, unsure of what she was about to do.

Should I lead Torao away? Would it be foolish, considering that the shadow might not appear? But then, if he does, I might not be able to save Torao....
Tsuki kept pondering of this, lost in her own thoughts, still unsure of what to do.

She had originally meant for Torao to follow her to the woods, where it would, hopefully, be safe. But Tsuki couldn't count on places anymore like she used to. Her brother could appear at anytime, anywhere, at any instant now. It didn't matter where she took Torao, it didn't matter where she was.

She finally concluded that it would, indeed, be foolish to lead Torao into a forest to hide him if the shadow found them, despite her efforts. So now that Tsuki's plan was foiled, what was she to do? The question remained.

What if brother comes, and I am defenseless and useless to save Torao? I can't possibly hope to defend him, especially when brother is controlling my darkness..so there is only one answer....

Tsuki sighed, and glanced at Torao, now staring at him. There's only one answer to this. And I was foolish not to do it in the first place. The only way I can save Torao is to run away from him, and hope that we never meet again, and that he never encounters my brother. Because if I stay here any longer, brother might discover him sooner...and that would be worse than me running away.

I have to face consequences, no matter how much I don't want to run away, no matter how much I want to laugh and smile, No matter how much I want to know more about Torao, I have to get away from him. It's for his own good.....

Tsuki now looked down, her face seeming serious, but saddened as she began to speak.

"Torao, I am afraid you cannot follow me. I am sorry I mislead you, but I have to go. I thought you would be able to come, but I was mistaken. I must leave, but it was nice meeting you..."

Tsuki looked up to glance at Torao, and smiled. "Maybe we'll meet again sometime..." She tried her best to hide her feelings with optimism, not wanting Torao to see her sadness. It's for his protection...

And with that, Tsuki turned her back on Torao, and began to walk away, secretly hoping that they would meet again, but knowing that it'd be best not to.

[Torao]

Torao stopped when he saw Tsuki pause. "Tsuki, is something wrong?" Tilting his head a bit,he saw she looked as if she was in deep thinking and decided to leave her alone for awhile.

I wonder what she is thinking about.. Whatever it is, it seems as if it's taken her completely into her own mind.. That's kind of strange to think about.. Um, should I pull her back? Uh... Torao was beginning to get angry with himself for not making up his mind sooner. He then huffed a sigh and looked at Tsuki. Torao the outstretched his hand and begna to wave it in front of her face. "Helloooo, earth to Tsuki.."

Torao then put his arm down and crossed them, looking out towards the forest. He then felt someone staring at him. When he turned to look at Tsuki, he jumped. Well, that wasn't freaky at all... Not to mention she scared the crap out of me!! Torao sighed and tried to make his heartbeat slow down and looked away, sort of embarassed.

"Torao, I am afraid you cannot follow me. I am sorry I mislead you, but I have to go. I thought you would be able to come, but I was mistaken. I must leave, but it was nice meeting you..."[/u]

Torao then looked at Tsuki. "What are you talking about..? Are you talking while still thinking, like sleepwalking or something..?" Although he knew it wasn't like that, he wished it was. Tsuki then looked up at him, he now noticed she was looking down, and smiled. She was trying to be happy but he saw right through her.

"Maybe we'll meet again sometime..."[/u]

Tsuki then turned around and walked off. "Yeah, there's one chance in a million for that to happen.." Torao mumbled under his breath as he took a large step towards Tsuki and caught her wrist. "Why are you doing this? Why did you have a sudden change of mind?" She is so confusing! At first she wants me to follow her for no reason and then she wants to leave for no reason, what the heck!?

[TSUKI YORU]

"What are you talking about..? Are you talking while still thinking, like sleepwalking or something..?"[/u]

Tsuki looked at him with stern eyes. This somewhat offended Tsuki. "No, Torao. I am completely and utterly serious.....I can't be around you. It's dangerous." Tsuki stated, looking Torao in the eye.

"Yeah, there's one chance in a million for that to happen.."[/u]

Tsuki heard Torao's disbelief as she began to walk away, but she ignored him, knowing he was right. We probably WILL never meet again.... Tsuki solemnly thought to herself, as she continued to walk away.

Suddenly, something caught Tsuki's wrist. She turned around, and glanced down. It was a muscular hand that was wrapped around her wrist. She then looked up to see a frustrated, puzzled Torao.
"Why did you do that?" Tsuki wondered aloud, staring at Torao, and seeming a bit angry, but also curious. "Why have you stopped me?" Tsuki seemed tense, but truly, she was amazed by Torao's actions. She was having mixed feelings of this action; half-glad he had stopped her, but half-angry that he didn't let her just walk away.

"Why are you doing this? Why did you have a sudden change of mind?"[/u]

Tsuki focused on Torao long and hard for some moments, but then finally sighed, and looked away. She seemed to be considering her words. After a moment of this, she spoke, her gaze still distant.

"I am protecting you." Tsuki answered sedately. "I should have realized sooner that by being with you, I am putting you in danger. And that, is something I never want to do."

Tsuki's gaze went back on Torao, hoping he'd understand. She, then, smiled, not wanting to seem tense, but it was strained. Her blue eyes seemed sad, and lonely as she stared back at Torao. No matter how much she tried to hide them, her feelings were seeping through.

Tsuki couldn't shrink what she felt, her emotions could not be hidden, no matter her efforts. So, she turned her back on Torao, so he could no longer see her face.

[Torao]

"No, Torao. I am completely and utterly serious.....I can't be around you. It's dangerous."[/u]

Tsuki had turned around to look Torao in the eyes, and he returned the favor by doing the same. "Want to explain to me how it's dangerous? If you think I'm scared or something you're wrong." Torao said a bit frostly.(In a cold fashion, otherwise..)

"Why did you do that?"[/u] "Why have you stopped me?"[/u]

Torao realized then that he had her wrist and let go. "I, I didn't want you to go.." Torao's hair covered his eyes and he turned his head away from her, embarassed now for admitting that. Why did I do that? Yeah, I really didn;t want her to go, but, still.. There has to be something more.. I've met people along the way here and they left and I didn't want them to leave either but I didn't stop them. So why did I stop her? If she wants to leave, then I should let her go.. I guess.. I'm feeling...lonely? Can a single person heal someone's loneliness in only a few minutes? Torao then glanced at Tsuki through his hair and back down. Of course, but it depends on how desperate a person is or it also depends on who the person is..

"I am protecting you. I should have realized sooner that by being with you, I am putting you in danger. And that, is something I never want to do."[/u]

Torao winced a bit as she said that. "Protect me? How do you figure that leaving liek this is protecting me?" I'm messed up inside, ever since the day I was separated from my sister.. And Tsuki, for some reason I just got attached to her in the little time we spoke together and it's hurting me obivously more than she realizes now that she's just suddenly leaving.. It hurts worse than I thought.. "Listen, no matter how much we want to protect someone, we can never truly make them safe and be there to help them, I'm one of the people who know that best, so there's no true reason for you to leave.." Torao was not intending to be hurtful, but didn't feel any remorse for what he just said. Then he pondered for a moment. "Unless, you just don't like being around me at all and your using "I can't protect you" as an excuse." Torao said bluntly. He didn't even try to make it sound nice. Not sugarcoating anything was one of his specialties and one of the qualities he shares with his sister.

[TSUKI YORU]

"Want to explain to me how it's dangerous? If you think I'm scared or something you're wrong."

Tsuki sighed. She could tell that Torao was in a remote manner, as he had said his words rather coldly. Tsuki's face hardened a bit in frustration.

"You could be killed - that is how it is dangerous." Tsuki said matter-of-factly, with a tinge of aloof in her voice. She was slightly irritated, but couldn't explain why.
Tsuki Pffted. "I can't imagine you scared, Torao. Why would I think such a thing? I just don't want you harmed...." Tsuki stated nonchalantly, becoming more irritated, but telling the truth.

"I, I didn't want you to go.."[/u]

Tsuki's eyes widened, she was amazed. Her irritated self had completely vanished from her shock. He....didn't want me to leave....He wanted me to stay here....with him. Me. He wanted me to stay....
A smile unconsciously appeared on Tsuki's face. "Well, I-I'm glad you did it....." Tsuki admitted nervously while staring at Torao, and turning slightly pink. Why am I so happy...? Why am I feeling like this...?..It's strange, yet, comforting....

Tsuki suddenly notice Torao wince. Her face became puzzled.

"Protect me? How do you figure that leaving like this is protecting me?"

"Well.....I.....I...it just is! If....If I stay here..." Tsuki looked away from Torao now, her smile had faded, but she continued. "If I stay here, then you might die....because if my brother appears, he will surely try to harm you.....at least one way....or another...." Tsuki tried to open up, but it was hard talking about death and her wretched elder brother, especially to Torao.

She looked back at Torao, and stared into his eyes. "I-I just don't want you to get hurt....because of me..." Tsuki managed.

"Listen, no matter how much we want to protect someone, we can never truly make them safe and be there to help them, I'm one of the people who know that best, so there's no true reason for you to leave.."

Tsuki was truly amazed at Torao's words as she hung on to each and every one of them. Tsuki looked down, a frown formed on her face, now ashamed. "I guess you're right..." Tsuki admitted, "there is not any reason to leave you..." Even if I do want to protect you, leaving might just make it worse for the both of us....

"Unless, you just don't like being around me at all and your using "I can't protect you" as an excuse."[/u]

Tsuki abruptly looked up at Torao, fury in her eyes, now angry he would think this way. "Why wouldn't I want to be around you? You are....you are....important to me! How could you say that, Torao? How?! I would never lie to you, nor use any foolish excuse!" Tsuki argued furiously, being honest in every word.

After some moments, Tsuki closed her eyes, and breathed in and out through her nose. She calmed down a little, her face was sedate like before now.

"Torao, I would NEVER lie or use any excuses towards you. What I have been saying is true. You could be danger. You probably ARE in danger. That is why I was going to leave, because I thought I might be protecting you, but you have opened my eyes. I realize that now, even though, I want to protect you from my brother, that me leaving you could hurt us both even worse. So, I will stay..." And only hope that the Shadow does not find us....does not find me. I do not want you to see the horrible person I become once I am being controlled by darkness. I do not wish to harm you, because you are, indeed, very important to me.....

[Torao]

{{Sorry for the late reply..}}

Torao blinked and looked to the side as he heard Tsuki sigh, guessing she was probably getting irritated with him.

"You could be killed - that is how it is dangerous."[/u]

Torao began to chuckle when she said that. "So? I could be killed tomorrow for all we know! So how does you leaving make it even more unlikely?" Torao then lifted an eybrow as Tsuki made a pfft noise. He then laughed again when Tsuki said she couldn't imagine him scared. "Well believe it or not Tsuki, I do get scared, but people like you aren't the reason. I'll give you some credit though, it isn't easy making me scared. Also, you say you don't want me harmed, but you're harming me right now whether you know it or not.." Torao said as he faced his back towards her, turning completely red.

"Well, I-I'm glad you did it....."[/u]

Torao still had his back towards her, but he turned his head a bit. "You..are?" She's happy I stopped her? But she sounded annoyed and looked as if she wanted to leave a few minutes ago... She can sure change her mind fast..

"You have a brother?" Torao asked as that caught his attention. "Why would he kill me without reason? Even if your brother did show and try to kill me, I'd fight back and make him run with tail between his legs. Or try, either way. I know how to fight others, I think I'll be okay, don't worry." Torao said, trying to be reassuring and wasn't positive if it was working.

"I-I just don't want you to get hurt....because of me..."[/i]

Torao turned completely around and walked to her side, putting his hand on her head. "I won't get hurt, because of you.."

"Why wouldn't I want to be around you? You are....you are....important to me! How could you say that, Torao? How?! I would never lie to you, nor use any foolish excuse!"[/u]

Torao listened silently as she yelled at him, asking how he could say that. He could tell Tsuki was completely pissed off at him. "Well, let's see, one reason you might not want to be around me is because I'm being a complete ass. Either way, I'm glad you won't lie to me, makes me feel a lot better." Torao said with a half-smile. Either way Torao's smile faded and the hand that was on Tsuki's head fell back to his side as he walked off. "If you're this worried about me dying, then maybe I should leave.." Torao said loud enough for her to hear. Why does this hurt so much? I barely know Tsuki and yet leaving her like this is is bringing a lot of pain..

[TSUKI YORU]

"So? I could be killed tomorrow for all we know! So how does you leaving make it even more unlikely?"

Tsuki heard Torao chuckle. This made Tsuki slightly aggravated. "What's so amusing?" She demanded, narrowing her eyes. Then, she heard his words, and calmed down a bit - her eyes on Torao normally now.

"That may be true..." Tsuki started, trying to shake the image of a dead Torao he had painted in her head. "But my leaving you would have made you live longer. That is why I attempted it...but even then....I didn't want to leave...." Tsuki stated, looking down at the last part. "I was leaving for your safety, for your protection - so my brother wouldn't be able to find you sooner. I hoped that if I left, perhaps my wretched brother would not find you at all...."

"Well believe it or not Tsuki, I do get scared, but people like you aren't the reason. I'll give you some credit though, it isn't easy making me scared. Also, you say you don't want me harmed, but you're harming me right now whether you know it or not.."[/u]

Tsuki glanced down. But you don't even know the real me, Torao.....how can you say that you are not scared of me when you do not know of the dark side that I inhabit? Of the brother that I am related to? How can you say that....when you barely know anything at all?.... Tsuki looked up quickly at Torao as he said the last part.

"I am harming you, am I?" Tsuki asked, slightly puzzled. "You mean....by leaving you?..." Tsuki stared, wide-eyed, waiting to see if her guess was true.

Torao turned his head a bit towards Tsuki.
"You..are?"[/u]

Tsuki was still blushing slightly, still a little nervous. "Y-yes...is there something wrong about that?..." Tsuki asked innocently.

"You have a brother? Why would he kill me without reason? Even if your brother did show and try to kill me, I'd fight back and make him run with tail between his legs. Or try, either way. I know how to fight others, I think I'll be okay, don't worry."[/u]

Tsuki giggled, followed by laughter. But she wasn't sure why Torao's remark had made her laugh. Usually, she would have turned serious, and angered at his comment, but instead, she had laughed, thinking his remark was amusing. Either way, she planned on explaining the true identity of her brother. The smile faded from her lips. Tsuki became serious, and a little worried, hoping Torao wasn't serious about fighting the Shadow.
"Trust me, Torao, you have absolutely no idea who my brother is. Torao, I'm warning you. Please don't try and fight him. If you are ever confronted with him, run. Just run! You can't hope to possibly defeat my brother.....he's the Shadow! Just promise me, that if you ever see him, you will run....okay?" Tsuki pleaded, hoping that he would not protest. The last thing she wanted was to see Torao hurt....

Suddenly, Tsuki saw Torao turn around, and start walking toward her. After a moment, his hand was on her head. Tsuki could feel her cheeks turn red.

"I won't get hurt, because of you.."[/u]

Tsuki looked up at him. Torao looked so serious. She stared back, into his eyes, and asked innocently, "How do you know that?..."

"Well, let's see, one reason you might not want to be around me is because I'm being a complete ass. Either way, I'm glad you won't lie to me, makes me feel a lot better." Torao half-smiled.

"You are not being an annoyance! And even if you were, I'd still want to be around you!" Tsuki protested, not wanting to use a swear word in her sentence. Tsuki laughed a little, but meant what she had said. Her cheeks began to feel a little hotter.
"Thank you. I-I'm glad to know that...." Tsuki stated, now smiling again.

Suddenly, Torao's smile faded, and his hand slid off Tsuki's head, and he began to walk off.

"If you're this worried about me dying, then maybe I should leave.."

Tsuki's smile vanished. Suddenly worried, Tsuki caught up to Torao. "No!" She exclaimed, and grabbed his hand quickly, stopping him.
After a moment, Tsuki's cheeks turned slightly pink again. "I mean....you can't go!..." Tsuki cried, uncertain to what had come over her. She didn't know what say next....

All I know is....I can't let Torao leave me, and I can't leave him....

[Torao]

"You being here doesn't make me immortal. If someone comes and fights us and I end up dying, that's my fate. We can't stop it, it was already made to happen, and no one even asked us, it was decided for us, how our lives would play out." As Torao spoke, his voice faltered and soon went almost silent. He didn't find joy in talking about these things and would rather be talking about happier things with Tsuki. "I can protect myself, I am fifteen after all and I've been on my own for I don't know how long now.." Torao ignored the part she said about her brother, for he wasn't sure exactly how to respnd to it.

"I am harming you, am I?" "You mean....by leaving you?..."

Torao kept silent, even after she finished. He began to turn red and completely turned from her again. He had the urge to run and wanted to run from her because of his embarassment, but his legs wouldn't listen to him and seemed as if they were glued to the place where he was standing. Torao then sighed, knowing he had to give her some form of answer, so he slightly nodded and looked to the side.

"Y-yes...is there something wrong about that?..." [/u]

"No, I was just wondering.. By the way, if you haven't noticed, you're stuttering again..and blushing." Torao said teasingly, trying to lighten the mood a bit. He then looked at her as she giggled, then laughed. He was kind of confused by this. "Now it's my turn to ask you, what's so amusing? I was kind of being serious there.." Which isn't often.. Tsuki then told him that if he were to encounter him, then to run and that he had no chance of defeating him, since he was the shadow. "I see.. Sop your brother is the Shadow. Well, despite that fact, I don't care. Also, I will run, but on one conditon." Torao siad with obvious mischief, seeing if she'll think that whatever he has on mind will be terrbiel. He almost laughed again as he thought of her reaction.

Tsuki then asked how he knew she wouldn't hurt him. "Because you're not that type of person and I'm sure you're strong enough to overcome multiple things, of course, you have to set our mind to it though."

"You are not being an annoyance! And even if you were, I'd still want to be around you!"[/u]

Torao stared at her with a bit of widened eyes, then lowered them and looked at her softly. "Why would you want to be around an annoyance?" It wasn't what he wanted to ask, but it was what came out and he cursed himself silently. He saw that Tsuki was smiuling and blushing again, and couldn't stop himself from smiling at her in return.

As Torao was walking off, he suddenly heard Tsuki yell "no" and felt her hand grab his and stop him. Torao blinked for a moment, then closed his hand over hers and moved a bit closer. "And tell me why I shouldn't leave, and I don't wish to hear it's because of the "I can't protect you", or "my brother will get you" stuff I want a real reason." torao said as he looked Tsuki in the eyes.

[TSUKI YORU]

"You being here doesn't make me immortal. If someone comes and fights us and I end up dying, that's my fate. We can't stop it, it was already made to happen, and no one even asked us, it was decided for us, how our lives would play out."

Tsuki looked to the side, knowing he was right. But somehow, something about the 'fate' issue concerned her. "Yes, that is true....but fate doesn't decide, WE do, Torao. Fate doesn't control us...and we have choices we must choose. Fate may choose how things end up, such as us meeting one another, but we choose the path before it."{W.I.P}