Silver Wish

Lila paused when she heard those words. He said it so quietly and yet she heard him loud and clear. That's true, he made that promise when they first started dating. The situation has changed a lot now. Her thoughts broke off when she felt Kiryu nibble on her bottom lip. She hits him.

"Don't take advantage of me."

"Sorry, you're too cute not to take advantage of." Kiryu parted their lips. "Do you feel better?"

Huh? She quickly realized why he kissed her and she looked away. "You should have given it to me normally."

"It is a bad habit of mine." Kiryu brushed his hands across her cheeks. "Your eyes are still red."

"Lately that happens a lot. I will be fine later but I think I should wear a mask." Lila rummaged through her bag and pulled one out.

Since she and the other guys discovered that she could no longer return to normal immediately, they came up with this idea.

Kiryu raised his eyebrow. "A mask?"

Lila nodded. "Mm, it lessens the affect if somebody looks at my eyes."

"I see, so your bothering with that?"

Now that she thought about it, from the looks of things Kiryu does not hide his eyes. He walks around like that in broad daylight. Then again, even if he hid his eyes, his hair colour stood out. How many people in Star town have the same hair colour as Kiryu? The answer is maybe one other person.

No other hanyou even when they transform has the same hair colour. So it is easy to identify Kiryu. When the report came out saying they saw Kiryu at the sight. Lila immediately believed it. How could anybody mistake Kiryu with hair like that?

Lila slipped the mask onto her face. It looked like one of those ones from a fancy costume party - the shape of a buŧŧerfly.

Since she arrived here Lila repeatedly tried to go home. She knew it would be far better and safer going

home than staying anywhere else. But from what she heard from the others, it is not easy going there. Not easy, huh? Lila stole a glance at Kiryu. It might be hard for her to go home, but it should be easier for him. But would it be okay for her to ask him for a favor during these circumnstances?

Her thoughts broke off when she saw Kiryu looking intensely at somebody. She tried to have a look too, but Kiryu grabbed her hand and shook his head. "So, you have some questions you want to ask me, right?"

Lila sighs deeply. "Other than the questions I have already asked you?"

"Well, I don't think you will ask a serious question during our question game." Kiryu trailed off. "Why haven't you asked me about Ayase yet?"

"I know she is with you. So is there any need for me to ask?"

"I figured you would. Why would you take her as badly injured as she was from the hospital? Where is she now? Is she still hurt."

"You probably realized that her injuries would not heal up normally during this situation, so you took her away."

Also, Kotori-chan disappeared shortly after Kiryu took her child. It isn't a stretch that he asked her to help. Still, there is something that has been nagging at her for a while now. Would it be okay to ask him even though it is insensitive of her?

"If you want to meet her, you can ask me."

Lila blinks when she hears his reply.

"I mean, I know since you got back, you've only seen the guys. They are your friends, but I thought you could use some female company too."

Female company...indeed she does miss her other friends. But right now there are far too many things happening. She should remain distant from them all. Lila was about to say this to him when she noticed they were heading outside.

"Kiryu?"

"Too many people were watching us."

She raises her eyebrows at that but does not say anything else as she follows him outside. A cold gust of wind hits her face, and Lila quickly scans their surroundings. Ah, the rooftop. Kiryu walked over to the railing and leaned against it as he pulled out a lighter and cigarette.

Now that she thought about it. Kiryu is now at the legal age to smoke and drink. His birthday...she missed it. Lila stares at him. Last year she promised him something for his birthday this year, does he remember it?

"Say Kiryu, does it bother you that much? Your current appearance?"

Lila noticed that whenever she looked at him, he would turn his head away.

"Yeah, a little." He briefly looks over at her. "But that is the least of my problems now."

The least of his problems? Is it okay for her to ask? Does she have the right to do so? The right for him to confine in her once again? Just as she debated about that in her head, Kiryu turned to look at her properly. This was the first time in a long time since she last saw him like-- like--

"What I am worried about the most right now is whether I will be able to protect you."

It seems like the burdens and things she owes Kiryu will keep increasing now. Lila clenched her fist.

"Why?"

"Back then, when we were younger, you saved me. If I didn't meet you, I would not be here anymore. That night you noticed somebody was after me and that's why you approached me. The sound of my bells and music aside, you did it deliberately correct?"

It seems like he has more things figured out than she thought if it is like that, then she should no longer hide things from him.