The black dog

Chapter 5

Souta went to go for a walk. All that weird stuff was getting too much for him and he wanted to be on his own. He had come back to himself, walking quietly and thinking. The Park always gave him the most peace and quiet, so this was where he walked to first. Not expecting what he would encounter he continued walking. He enjoyed the trees and the sun. That always brought a smile to his face. As his head lowered again, he saw a bench coming towards him, without seeing who or what was on it, he just walked towards it. It had an attraction for him. Souta had felt this pull before. He thought back to the train he had traveled on. Yes, exactly there he had felt the same. All of a sudden, he began to walk faster. Why am I walking so fast? It’s not necessary, I am not in a hurry. It went through his mind, but his body kept going until he reached the bench, standing still, in front of the bench where the girl was laying. It was Mizore. He didn't know her name yet, but he recognized her. That red hair was recognizable from everything. Could it be her? Carefully he bent over her. This caused a shadow to fall across her face causing her to lose sleep and slowly open her eyes. She had not slept enough yet and it was easy to tell from her eyes. Mizore's reddish-brown eyes appeared and Souta was right. It was the girl he had met on the train. He was surprised. Now that he took a good look at her she was very beautiful. His eyes followed Mizore's body. How cute she is laying there, he thought. As soon as his eyes came near hers, the pair of half-opened eyes shot open at once. In an instant, she sat awake and straight up on the bench.

'Who are you. Leave me alone.'

She was very indignant until she saw his ice blue eyes. She recognized those.

The boy from the train? What the hell is he doing here. Went through Mizore’s mind. Silence reigned and all they did was look at each other from head to toe. Souta was the one who broke this silence.

'Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just wondering what you're doing here.' His voice was calm, but in his mind the confusion was great. I'm making contact with someone. With a human being. I'm making contact with a human being and a girl at that. Rumbled it in his head.

'If I were you, I wouldn't do anything either. And what do you care that I ran away.' Mizore balled her fists, but as soon as she mentioned running away, she slapped her hand in front of her mouth. She had gotten all riled up. Why am I saying that. Now that one probably wants to send me home and I don't want to listen to a creep like him. It went through her head in seconds. Souta gave a sigh. 'First of all, I'm not a creep and I'm not sending you home either. Am not your father you know.' So, he answered the questions she hadn't even asked.

What the hell. He answered what I was thinking. She was in a shock from how he read her mind. Without a word her mind kept on asking questions.

'Listen, I'm not sending you home, but it does seem wiser to come with me to my house.' It came so spontaneously that it startled Souta. What am I doing. I'm inviting someone into my sanctuary. His words were quicker to him than his mind caught up with. The conversation between the two went on as usual, as did the thoughts that didn’t get to the actions. Everything went against the normal ritual on both sides.

'Why should I go with you and trust you.' Mizore snarled at him.

'Well, it's not that safe here. You're lucky nothing's happened to you yet. Compared to the nightmares running around here. I'm anything but a creep though.'

'I can take care of myself quite well.' It came out, but self-assured it was not.

'Well, well, that doesn't exactly sound like you're sure. Here I am the only one you can trust, because others don't hesitate to do something to an insecure girl like you.'

'I'm not insecure at all, but I'll go with you.' Mizore almost threw up at the idea of having to give someone she was disgusted with right.

'I am glad you do have the good sense to put your safety first.' He said and Souta walked forward, past her.

'Only because I could use a couch though and I'm sure you have some food for me.' She tried to make herself look tall, but it wasn't really grateful to him. Together they walked out of the park on their way to his house. As they walked, the differences were easy to see and to notice. While Mizore was talking at once, Souta was silent and listened to her. In all the time they were walking, Souta intervened once.

‘What is your name anyway?’ Suddenly Mizore stopped her story.

'Mizore, that means sleet.Then what is your name?'

'Souta. As for the meaning, it means suddenly big' He was calm as ever, though his eyes went towards Mizore as soon as she began to laugh loudly.

'Suddenly big? Is that what your parents came up with for you? So even your parents thought of you as a creep.' She had a grin on her face and Souta raised his eyebrow.

'Your name suits your personality well. Cold as ice.' He closed his eyes and continued walking. He started to doubt if he really wanted this girl in his home.

'Do your parents think it's okay for you to bring someone you don't even know?' Mizore asked

Souta was the one laughing this time. 'Haha, I live and take care of myself. No parents.'

'No parents? They kicked out so soon? 18 and your parents already have enought of seeing your face.' Mizore laughed and hoped he would jump into it, but she was wrong. Souta didn't care and ignored her whole statement. He did feel at ease with her, even though she was very rude. Mizore was never afraid to speak her mind. The only reason she kept anything to herself was out of decency, nothing more. Of course, unlike Souta who loved to think a lot and didn't hestitate about telling his thoughts.

'This is where we need to turn.' He said calmly and composedly. He went into a big street with a lot of big buildings. Most of them were old and dilapidated. The whole neighborhood was empty. As if no people lived there. The fire spots were very visable on the steeply rising buildings. Broken pieces fell down with notes that the building had seen its best days. The building that Souta stopped at and temporarily turned his back on had the worst state of all. More than half of the building was gone. It was clear that a large and powerful building once stood there. Mizore’s eyes glanced over it from head to toe.

'You've got to be kidding me. Do you really live here? What happened to it? I can hardly call this a decent neighborhood.' She was totally surprised and disappointed as Souta opened the door and answered her questions.

'Yes, I live here and for history you should read a book. Come on in.’ He was cold to her comments and went inside. With a puzzled look Mizore followed him inside.

   When she came in, everything was completely dark. The curtains were closed and they remained closed. Only when Souta turned on a small light to show a little more of the room. Mizore took in the room carefully. Her reddish-brown eyes slowly slid over every detail that was in the room. Souta's old coffee, his favorite couch where the springs were already almost popping out, the chocolate stain, the low oak table that stood in the middle of the room, not to mention the old newspapers that hung on the wall.

'Sit down on the couch, I'll make myself a cup of coffee. Want some coffee too?' Souta tried asking kindly.

'Tea, I don't like coffee.' She took the room in some more and finally sat down on the couch. 

'I don’t have tea, so coffee it is.'

'Now do the walls have the same color as your hair and eyes? Or do they just look that way.' That's what first caught her eye. 'The colors are indeed the same as my eyes and hair.' Came from out of the kitchen, where he was busy with the coffee.

'A creep and a narcissist ok got it. Suits perfectly then' Mizore tried laughingly.

'It takes one to see one.' Surprised by his answer, she became silent about it.

'Here's your coffee.' Souta set a large mug with a bunch of dogs sticking out their tongues in front of her. Mizore was still silent, but did take the mug with coffee.

'Rude as ever I see' Souta said

'You're the weird one, though.' Mizore took a sip of the coffee she hated.

'If you think so.' He didn’t even care what she said about him. She looked at him and shook her head. She felt guilty for being so rude to him, even though he's helping her out.

'As weird as you may be, you do give me shelter. Even if I don't sound like it, I'm grateful.'

'You run your mouth too often.'

Mizore's guilt disappeared after such a comment. 'I'm not running my mouth. I'm just honest.' She snapped at him.

'Yes, exactly that's why. You should really learn to think before you say something.' Meanwhile, Souta grabbed one of his cigarettes and lit it up.

'You seriously smoke? Great, now my clothes will smell like smoke, thanks to you'

'That way I can think better. You and I have a lot to talk about. Because I need you' he let the smoke escaped from his mouth. 

'Need me? What would you need me for? You don't even know me.' She was surprised and weirded out by his comment.

'I need you because I need to help someone and I ask you because you possess that which I need.'