You're Mine - Chapter Eight
Title: Ch.08 - Arguments
Pairing: Kato/?
Rating: PG-13
Length: Chapter
Genre: Slash, chapter, mystery, first person.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything or anyone related to JE. These are only ideas floating around my head that I decided to write about.
Summary: Shige begins to get strange notes from an anonymous source. He doesn't know if they're a prank, or if they're for real. Most of all though, he has no idea who it is that's leaving the notes for him.
A/N: I've realized the bad thing about writing a fic this way is that because so many people remained possibilities for so long, it makes me want to write fics about them and Shige XD Since this is only about one of them, but obviously I've thought about the others quite a bit throughout. And comments make me want to write other couples too, lol. I always want to make the readers happy. It's a difficult quality to deal with when writing a fic. Maybe I should have made it more obvious from the beginning *giggles* Oh well, I kind of like it the way it is. I hope everyone else does too, and I hope no one ends up disappointed by the results and decides they don't like it anymore :_( That would obviously make me sad. But anyway, about the actual chapter, This one was particularly difficult because I had different possibilities for this point in the story in my head. I kept going back and forth on what I wanted to do, and even ended up rewriting half of it XD I finally made a decision I guess, and I hope it turns out well ^_^
Day Eighteen
Even though I felt like I knew who I wanted it to be, that didn't mean I knew who it was. I sort of felt like it had to be him, because the letters and everything just seemed to point in that direction. But then I doubted myself because it could have just been wishful thinking. I tried to think about how easy it would be for it to be one of the other two, but I couldn't think about that anymore. I didn't want to think about anyone else. It was tearing me up worse than anything had yet. What would I do if it turned out to be someone else? The last thing I wanted to do now was face any of them. I didn't even want to face Tegoshi because he knew who it was. I didn't want to go to work. I kind of just wanted to sink into my bed and disappear for a while, but that wasn't possible.
When I did get to work, it was about half an hour late. I paused as soon as I walked in the door. A wall of disbelief quickly fell over my mind as I found my eyes attach to the bright red color of an envelope sitting on the table just in front of the door. It couldn't be. He wouldn't leave a note somewhere like that, would he? It was partially hidden under a lamp sitting there, but it was almost impossible to miss. I could see how someone might not notice it if they were in a hurry, but I was the opposite. I was practically dragging my feet. But still. It was in the open! I walked closer, feeling really uncertain. I pulled it out from under the lamp. My name was scrawled into the upper left corner. The envelope was closed, but that didn't make me feel any better about it. What if someone else had found it?
I looked around me before sitting my bag down on the floor and tearing it open. I pulled the red paper out that I was now so used to seeing. At first it had been something that scared me, but now I could feel my chest clench oddly as I looked down at it. Slowly I unfolded the paper to see what he had to say this time.
Today Shige. I can't wait anymore, and I think you feel the same way. Meet me on the roof at lunch. You can get there by the last door on the very far eastern side of the building. I will meet you there.
On the very bottom of the sheet there was more that looked like it had been scrawled on quickly, and maybe at a different time because the ink looked a little different.
Why are you so late today? I don't know when you'll get here. Someone keeps bugging me about you. I don't know if you know what he's on about, but if you do then tell him to mind his own business. And if you were on time I could have left this in one of the usual places. I don't want to wait any longer. I hope you'll come.
I felt like my breath had gotten stuck in my throat. He wanted to tell me today? There was a mixture of feelings that suddenly exploded in my chest. I could strongly feel the excitement and fear above everything. After a moment of letting my mind freak out I thought about what he'd written on later. Someone was bugging him about me? Oh. I didn't really even have to guess who.
The first of the others I found was Koyama. He was sitting down with his fingers pressed against his temple. I walked closer and sat down beside him. Moving my leg I bumped my knee against his. He looked up at me and I smiled, earning one of his in return. I'd already decided. It just couldn't be him.
"Hey, Shige," he said as he leaned forward and stretched his arms over his head. "You're later than usual."
I nodded slowly. "Yeah, where are the other guys?"
He shrugged. "Masuda was just here, but he left a minute ago. Maybe to look for the other three. They've all been acting weird all morning. Off having secret conversations. Anytime Masuda or I tried to get close, we'd just get a look that might have held a death threat in it. So, I've been staying clear of all of them today. At least you seem normal," he added with a sigh.
I looked at him, feeling a little confused. All three of them were talking? Was it about me? Tegoshi, Ryo, and Yamapi? Did they all know what was going on? I tried to quickly think back to see if I could make out any signs that both Ryo and Yamapi knew what was going on, but I thought they must both be pretty good actors. But did that mean he'd already told someone else from the beginning or someone else had just found out, like Tegoshi had?
All the sudden Masuda walked in. "They're still ... Hey, Shige," he added suddenly as he noticed me. He smiled and sat down. I smiled back and nodded before waiting for him to continue.
"They're still what?" Koyama asked, a note of excitement to his voice. I think he was more worried than anything about what was going on.
"Oh, yeah," Masuda began again, as if he'd forgotten he had something to say. "They're still going at it. I was afraid to get too close because I didn't want them to think I was eavesdropping. I don't know what they're arguing about, but I definitely heard Tegoshi raise his voice. And not in a happy way either."
I felt my stomach sink nearly to my toes. They were fighting? I felt a moment of uncertainty and panic, not knowing what I should do or how I should respond. I stood without really thinking about it and Koyama looked up at me with a frown.
"I wouldn't go check on them if that's what you're thinking. They were being really secretive."
I nodded at Koyama's words, but I didn't really pay much attention to them. The only thing I could think of was what the other three were doing and what it meant. I moved out the door, not paying attention to whether or not Masuda and Koyama were watching, although I didn't hear them following me.
As soon as I was out the door I noticed someone walking towards me. A flustered looking Tegoshi met my gaze. His eyes widened for only a second before he quickly moved closer. "So, you're finally here?"
I nodded slowly, frowning at him before opening my mouth. "What have you been doing?" I felt the question ring through me, my mind flashing to everything that I'd heard so far that day, from the letter, and from Koyama and Masuda.
"Just come with me, okay." I let him pull me around, but glanced back over my shoulder as I noticed Ryo and Yamapi walking into view. They both stared at me uncertainly, and when my eyes met his I felt my chest clench again and my stomach fluttered. His expression didn't change from its set frown. Then Yamapi turned to Ryo and started talking. I looked back around and let myself be led away. They had to have been talking about me. Why else would they look so surprised to see me? Shit. That's the only thing that was going through my mind. Shit shit shit!
Tegoshi took me to the empty room that we had been using to practice dancing in. There was a mirror on one wall, so it was good for it. As soon as he shut the door behind us I moved further into the room and sank to the floor. Through the mirror I could see Tegoshi turn towards me, looking at me where I was sitting. I put my face in my hands. "Did you talk to him? Or them I guess." I knew the answer to that question, but it was the only thing I could think of to say. The fear of what they could possibly have been saying gripped my entire body.
"I was just trying to look after you," Tegoshi said softly. I could hear him moving closer until he sat down beside me. His knee brushed mine as he crossed his legs in front of him and I tensed in response.
"Why?" I felt my voice shake as I spoke but I wasn't crying or anything. I was just really angry and really scared. Tegoshi staid quiet for another moment. I think he finally realized that maybe what he'd done hadn't been fair to me. "I didn't ask you to do that," I added, finally moving my gaze to look at him. He was frowning, as if in thought. When he saw me looking, he turned his face to look right at me.
"Shige, what he's doing to you isn't fair. I just wanted him to be fair to you. I wanted him to treat you better. He's just using you right now. He's got you on a string, yanking you around. Don't you see it?" Tegoshi's voice was slowly rising as he spoke and I felt my eyes widening as I watched him. "I just wanted to tell him to treat you better and," he moved as he spoke, standing and taking a few frustrated steps, his hands clenching. "to treat you like an equal. But then they both had to get in on it and they wouldn't let it rest. They just kept attacking me for meddling and wanted to know how I found out, and then they kept telling me to mind my own business, and," he paused and looked at me for a long moment before finishing the sentence, "he told me not to tell you. But I'm going to leave that up to you."
I sat there, processing everything he was saying. I was still angry, but logically I was already wrapping my mind around Tegoshi's feelings. He might be selfish, but I believed that he didn't have bad intentions. And then the final thing he said. That he would let me decide whether or not I wanted him to tell me who it was. I could clearly feel my stomach wound up in a knot so tight that I felt like I might get sick. I closed my eyes and tried to fight the feeling of nausea.
"No, I'll wait." I looked over and met Tegoshi's gaze. He looked a little uncertain, so I stood and moved closer to him. "He left me a note this morning saying that he wanted to tell me today."
Tegoshi nodded slowly before pressing his fingers into his pockets. "Well at least that's good."
"He also said for me to tell you to mind your own business." At the added information I could clearly see Tegoshi's lips thin into a hardened line. Apparently that wasn't more good news to him. "Look, Tegoshi," I said slowly, moving closer to him. "Thank you, I guess. I mean, for trying to look out for me even though I didn't ask you to. And even if you're just causing trouble, I'm glad that you seem to care."
Tegoshi shrugged, suddenly looking a little uncomfortable. "It's just that I didn't like his methods, Shige. And I wasn't sure if you could take care of yourself, the way you've been reacting to him is almost like he's got you trained. And you don't even know who he is yet."
"I think I do," I said softly, and Tegoshi looked at me, surprised.
"Really?" I nodded to his question and he took a deep breath. "Oh, well. I guess you're not too worried about it anymore then. I guess you know what you want. At first I thought you wouldn't want it to be him," he said slowly, turning to look in the mirror. "I thought you two definitely wouldn't make a good match, but I guess it's not really any of my business if you both want to be together. So, when are you meeting him?"
My eyes were on Tegoshi, wondering what he was thinking and why he had put so much thought into it. But I couldn't figure it out other than to just think he was sticking his nose in other people's business too much. But that was kind of like him. He had such strong opinions. "Lunch," I responded after a second.
"Well, then. I guess all I have to say now is good luck," he turned to me, his eyes glancing me over. "I hope he's really everything you're expecting."
I nodded. "Yeah, me too." Although I wasn't really sure what I was expecting from him, other than to just do what he'd promised me in the letters. The thought immediately made my stomach knot, and I tried to push those thoughts away.
After a moment of looking at me, Tegoshi finally smiled. "Ah, it's really too bad it wasn't me. I would have been a lot cooler about it. And I would have made you fall for me without a doubt. You wouldn't have even wondered if it was possible to like someone else." He grinned in a way that told me he wasn't really being serious at all. Walking closer he clapped a hand on my shoulder. "But I guess I don't really think I would have left you letters anyway, or anyone I liked for that matter. I have other ways of getting who I want."
"Oh really?" I asked with a smile of my own. "Like who?"
His grin didn't falter, but only grew wider. "I didn't say there was a specific person. But you know, from past experience and such."
I nodded, giving him an appraising look. "Oh, okay then." I felt some of my tension ebb away as I joked with Tegoshi. He seemed more at ease himself, and maybe he really had just been worried. Maybe I had been really worried myself. And just maybe things would all go the way I wanted them to.
Lunch seemed to come slowly, but then when it was finally that time I felt like the morning had flown by. I declined any food, saying I wanted to get some fresh air first. Tegoshi had been avoiding Yamapi and Ryo all morning. Instead he'd been giving extra attention to Masuda and Koyama, who after being on edge for a little while had finally felt comfortable with the others again, and were thoroughly enjoying their attention. I thought it was kind of humorous looking. I tried not to look at Ryo and Yamapi too much. They had to know that it was down to only them two by now, that I could rule everyone else out just by the fact that they were the only ones speaking with Tegoshi. And even then, they wouldn't know whether or not he'd told me exactly who it was.
Deciding he was probably waiting for me to leave first, I took a deep breath and headed out of the room. The right door wasn't that difficult to find, although it was all the way on the other side of the building. When I got to the point where I was standing in front of it I felt all my nerves light on fire. I reached out and put my hand against the cool metal knob. My heart was pounding at what was about to happen. I was really about to face him, to face what had been going on for the past few weeks. My heart was beating so fast, and I was so nervous. I felt like I might even have been shaking a little. I let my hand fall from the door knob as I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself before going up.
Suddenly two hands were on my shoulders. I knew who was behind me before I even heard his voice say my name. "Shige, don't hesitate. Don't even look back. Just go." A hand reached down to find mine and placed it back on the door knob. I looked down as it was on top of mine. It was a soft touch, but still masculine. His voice too, it was so much softer than the other option's. "Yama.."
He cut me off. "Don't even think about looking back. Just keep moving forward." Uncertainty flooded through me. Did that mean the person behind me was the one, or was it just a friendly gesture to encourage me to go up and meet the other one? As I tightened my hand on the door knob and turned it his hand fell away. I opened the door and started moving up the stairs. Like he said, I didn't look back. No matter who would end up meeting me at the top, I was going to be there.
Pairing: Kato/?
Rating: PG-13
Length: Chapter
Genre: Slash, chapter, mystery, first person.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything or anyone related to JE. These are only ideas floating around my head that I decided to write about.
Summary: Shige begins to get strange notes from an anonymous source. He doesn't know if they're a prank, or if they're for real. Most of all though, he has no idea who it is that's leaving the notes for him.
A/N: I've realized the bad thing about writing a fic this way is that because so many people remained possibilities for so long, it makes me want to write fics about them and Shige XD Since this is only about one of them, but obviously I've thought about the others quite a bit throughout. And comments make me want to write other couples too, lol. I always want to make the readers happy. It's a difficult quality to deal with when writing a fic. Maybe I should have made it more obvious from the beginning *giggles* Oh well, I kind of like it the way it is. I hope everyone else does too, and I hope no one ends up disappointed by the results and decides they don't like it anymore :_( That would obviously make me sad. But anyway, about the actual chapter, This one was particularly difficult because I had different possibilities for this point in the story in my head. I kept going back and forth on what I wanted to do, and even ended up rewriting half of it XD I finally made a decision I guess, and I hope it turns out well ^_^
Day Eighteen
Even though I felt like I knew who I wanted it to be, that didn't mean I knew who it was. I sort of felt like it had to be him, because the letters and everything just seemed to point in that direction. But then I doubted myself because it could have just been wishful thinking. I tried to think about how easy it would be for it to be one of the other two, but I couldn't think about that anymore. I didn't want to think about anyone else. It was tearing me up worse than anything had yet. What would I do if it turned out to be someone else? The last thing I wanted to do now was face any of them. I didn't even want to face Tegoshi because he knew who it was. I didn't want to go to work. I kind of just wanted to sink into my bed and disappear for a while, but that wasn't possible.
When I did get to work, it was about half an hour late. I paused as soon as I walked in the door. A wall of disbelief quickly fell over my mind as I found my eyes attach to the bright red color of an envelope sitting on the table just in front of the door. It couldn't be. He wouldn't leave a note somewhere like that, would he? It was partially hidden under a lamp sitting there, but it was almost impossible to miss. I could see how someone might not notice it if they were in a hurry, but I was the opposite. I was practically dragging my feet. But still. It was in the open! I walked closer, feeling really uncertain. I pulled it out from under the lamp. My name was scrawled into the upper left corner. The envelope was closed, but that didn't make me feel any better about it. What if someone else had found it?
I looked around me before sitting my bag down on the floor and tearing it open. I pulled the red paper out that I was now so used to seeing. At first it had been something that scared me, but now I could feel my chest clench oddly as I looked down at it. Slowly I unfolded the paper to see what he had to say this time.
Today Shige. I can't wait anymore, and I think you feel the same way. Meet me on the roof at lunch. You can get there by the last door on the very far eastern side of the building. I will meet you there.
On the very bottom of the sheet there was more that looked like it had been scrawled on quickly, and maybe at a different time because the ink looked a little different.
Why are you so late today? I don't know when you'll get here. Someone keeps bugging me about you. I don't know if you know what he's on about, but if you do then tell him to mind his own business. And if you were on time I could have left this in one of the usual places. I don't want to wait any longer. I hope you'll come.
I felt like my breath had gotten stuck in my throat. He wanted to tell me today? There was a mixture of feelings that suddenly exploded in my chest. I could strongly feel the excitement and fear above everything. After a moment of letting my mind freak out I thought about what he'd written on later. Someone was bugging him about me? Oh. I didn't really even have to guess who.
The first of the others I found was Koyama. He was sitting down with his fingers pressed against his temple. I walked closer and sat down beside him. Moving my leg I bumped my knee against his. He looked up at me and I smiled, earning one of his in return. I'd already decided. It just couldn't be him.
"Hey, Shige," he said as he leaned forward and stretched his arms over his head. "You're later than usual."
I nodded slowly. "Yeah, where are the other guys?"
He shrugged. "Masuda was just here, but he left a minute ago. Maybe to look for the other three. They've all been acting weird all morning. Off having secret conversations. Anytime Masuda or I tried to get close, we'd just get a look that might have held a death threat in it. So, I've been staying clear of all of them today. At least you seem normal," he added with a sigh.
I looked at him, feeling a little confused. All three of them were talking? Was it about me? Tegoshi, Ryo, and Yamapi? Did they all know what was going on? I tried to quickly think back to see if I could make out any signs that both Ryo and Yamapi knew what was going on, but I thought they must both be pretty good actors. But did that mean he'd already told someone else from the beginning or someone else had just found out, like Tegoshi had?
All the sudden Masuda walked in. "They're still ... Hey, Shige," he added suddenly as he noticed me. He smiled and sat down. I smiled back and nodded before waiting for him to continue.
"They're still what?" Koyama asked, a note of excitement to his voice. I think he was more worried than anything about what was going on.
"Oh, yeah," Masuda began again, as if he'd forgotten he had something to say. "They're still going at it. I was afraid to get too close because I didn't want them to think I was eavesdropping. I don't know what they're arguing about, but I definitely heard Tegoshi raise his voice. And not in a happy way either."
I felt my stomach sink nearly to my toes. They were fighting? I felt a moment of uncertainty and panic, not knowing what I should do or how I should respond. I stood without really thinking about it and Koyama looked up at me with a frown.
"I wouldn't go check on them if that's what you're thinking. They were being really secretive."
I nodded at Koyama's words, but I didn't really pay much attention to them. The only thing I could think of was what the other three were doing and what it meant. I moved out the door, not paying attention to whether or not Masuda and Koyama were watching, although I didn't hear them following me.
As soon as I was out the door I noticed someone walking towards me. A flustered looking Tegoshi met my gaze. His eyes widened for only a second before he quickly moved closer. "So, you're finally here?"
I nodded slowly, frowning at him before opening my mouth. "What have you been doing?" I felt the question ring through me, my mind flashing to everything that I'd heard so far that day, from the letter, and from Koyama and Masuda.
"Just come with me, okay." I let him pull me around, but glanced back over my shoulder as I noticed Ryo and Yamapi walking into view. They both stared at me uncertainly, and when my eyes met his I felt my chest clench again and my stomach fluttered. His expression didn't change from its set frown. Then Yamapi turned to Ryo and started talking. I looked back around and let myself be led away. They had to have been talking about me. Why else would they look so surprised to see me? Shit. That's the only thing that was going through my mind. Shit shit shit!
Tegoshi took me to the empty room that we had been using to practice dancing in. There was a mirror on one wall, so it was good for it. As soon as he shut the door behind us I moved further into the room and sank to the floor. Through the mirror I could see Tegoshi turn towards me, looking at me where I was sitting. I put my face in my hands. "Did you talk to him? Or them I guess." I knew the answer to that question, but it was the only thing I could think of to say. The fear of what they could possibly have been saying gripped my entire body.
"I was just trying to look after you," Tegoshi said softly. I could hear him moving closer until he sat down beside me. His knee brushed mine as he crossed his legs in front of him and I tensed in response.
"Why?" I felt my voice shake as I spoke but I wasn't crying or anything. I was just really angry and really scared. Tegoshi staid quiet for another moment. I think he finally realized that maybe what he'd done hadn't been fair to me. "I didn't ask you to do that," I added, finally moving my gaze to look at him. He was frowning, as if in thought. When he saw me looking, he turned his face to look right at me.
"Shige, what he's doing to you isn't fair. I just wanted him to be fair to you. I wanted him to treat you better. He's just using you right now. He's got you on a string, yanking you around. Don't you see it?" Tegoshi's voice was slowly rising as he spoke and I felt my eyes widening as I watched him. "I just wanted to tell him to treat you better and," he moved as he spoke, standing and taking a few frustrated steps, his hands clenching. "to treat you like an equal. But then they both had to get in on it and they wouldn't let it rest. They just kept attacking me for meddling and wanted to know how I found out, and then they kept telling me to mind my own business, and," he paused and looked at me for a long moment before finishing the sentence, "he told me not to tell you. But I'm going to leave that up to you."
I sat there, processing everything he was saying. I was still angry, but logically I was already wrapping my mind around Tegoshi's feelings. He might be selfish, but I believed that he didn't have bad intentions. And then the final thing he said. That he would let me decide whether or not I wanted him to tell me who it was. I could clearly feel my stomach wound up in a knot so tight that I felt like I might get sick. I closed my eyes and tried to fight the feeling of nausea.
"No, I'll wait." I looked over and met Tegoshi's gaze. He looked a little uncertain, so I stood and moved closer to him. "He left me a note this morning saying that he wanted to tell me today."
Tegoshi nodded slowly before pressing his fingers into his pockets. "Well at least that's good."
"He also said for me to tell you to mind your own business." At the added information I could clearly see Tegoshi's lips thin into a hardened line. Apparently that wasn't more good news to him. "Look, Tegoshi," I said slowly, moving closer to him. "Thank you, I guess. I mean, for trying to look out for me even though I didn't ask you to. And even if you're just causing trouble, I'm glad that you seem to care."
Tegoshi shrugged, suddenly looking a little uncomfortable. "It's just that I didn't like his methods, Shige. And I wasn't sure if you could take care of yourself, the way you've been reacting to him is almost like he's got you trained. And you don't even know who he is yet."
"I think I do," I said softly, and Tegoshi looked at me, surprised.
"Really?" I nodded to his question and he took a deep breath. "Oh, well. I guess you're not too worried about it anymore then. I guess you know what you want. At first I thought you wouldn't want it to be him," he said slowly, turning to look in the mirror. "I thought you two definitely wouldn't make a good match, but I guess it's not really any of my business if you both want to be together. So, when are you meeting him?"
My eyes were on Tegoshi, wondering what he was thinking and why he had put so much thought into it. But I couldn't figure it out other than to just think he was sticking his nose in other people's business too much. But that was kind of like him. He had such strong opinions. "Lunch," I responded after a second.
"Well, then. I guess all I have to say now is good luck," he turned to me, his eyes glancing me over. "I hope he's really everything you're expecting."
I nodded. "Yeah, me too." Although I wasn't really sure what I was expecting from him, other than to just do what he'd promised me in the letters. The thought immediately made my stomach knot, and I tried to push those thoughts away.
After a moment of looking at me, Tegoshi finally smiled. "Ah, it's really too bad it wasn't me. I would have been a lot cooler about it. And I would have made you fall for me without a doubt. You wouldn't have even wondered if it was possible to like someone else." He grinned in a way that told me he wasn't really being serious at all. Walking closer he clapped a hand on my shoulder. "But I guess I don't really think I would have left you letters anyway, or anyone I liked for that matter. I have other ways of getting who I want."
"Oh really?" I asked with a smile of my own. "Like who?"
His grin didn't falter, but only grew wider. "I didn't say there was a specific person. But you know, from past experience and such."
I nodded, giving him an appraising look. "Oh, okay then." I felt some of my tension ebb away as I joked with Tegoshi. He seemed more at ease himself, and maybe he really had just been worried. Maybe I had been really worried myself. And just maybe things would all go the way I wanted them to.
Lunch seemed to come slowly, but then when it was finally that time I felt like the morning had flown by. I declined any food, saying I wanted to get some fresh air first. Tegoshi had been avoiding Yamapi and Ryo all morning. Instead he'd been giving extra attention to Masuda and Koyama, who after being on edge for a little while had finally felt comfortable with the others again, and were thoroughly enjoying their attention. I thought it was kind of humorous looking. I tried not to look at Ryo and Yamapi too much. They had to know that it was down to only them two by now, that I could rule everyone else out just by the fact that they were the only ones speaking with Tegoshi. And even then, they wouldn't know whether or not he'd told me exactly who it was.
Deciding he was probably waiting for me to leave first, I took a deep breath and headed out of the room. The right door wasn't that difficult to find, although it was all the way on the other side of the building. When I got to the point where I was standing in front of it I felt all my nerves light on fire. I reached out and put my hand against the cool metal knob. My heart was pounding at what was about to happen. I was really about to face him, to face what had been going on for the past few weeks. My heart was beating so fast, and I was so nervous. I felt like I might even have been shaking a little. I let my hand fall from the door knob as I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself before going up.
Suddenly two hands were on my shoulders. I knew who was behind me before I even heard his voice say my name. "Shige, don't hesitate. Don't even look back. Just go." A hand reached down to find mine and placed it back on the door knob. I looked down as it was on top of mine. It was a soft touch, but still masculine. His voice too, it was so much softer than the other option's. "Yama.."
He cut me off. "Don't even think about looking back. Just keep moving forward." Uncertainty flooded through me. Did that mean the person behind me was the one, or was it just a friendly gesture to encourage me to go up and meet the other one? As I tightened my hand on the door knob and turned it his hand fell away. I opened the door and started moving up the stairs. Like he said, I didn't look back. No matter who would end up meeting me at the top, I was going to be there.