House In Darkness -1

I find myself running towards the intersection to get to Kaede's house as thoughts start filling my head. I was in the track and field club during my years in high school so running at this pace is no problem. The problem right now is to find out what's going on with Kaede, and for something to happen right at the end of graduation, I just cannot stand the idea of leaving her if she is in pain.

With those thoughts in my head, I find myself reaching the intersection. There doesn't seem to be a lot of people around, but the ones that see my running give suspicious glances. I guess it is weird to see a girl running out and about like this, but that doesn't matter to me in the slightest as I push forward, making a left turn towards her house.

I can just about see her house in the distance, as I make sure no traffic is on the road before crossing the railway tracks to get on the right side. I know I should of waited till I got to a crossing but I didn't want to risk wasting anytime. My heart starts to beat faster as I have been running for a bit now, but I push on until finally with no obstacles I arrive at the entrance to Kaede's home.

The first thing I noticed was that there were no lights on inside, as If no one was home. "Could they have gone with their parents somewhere?" After catching my breath I walk up towards the door, before knocking. I waited to see if there was any movement inside but after a few moments it looked as if no one was home. I knock a second time just to be safe but again no response.

Nobody's home, is what I guessed. They must of gone out with their parents somewhere, but as I check to make sure their house was locked, to my surprise, as I went to try to open the door, it was unlocked. I look behind me to make sure no one was around before opening the door, and immediately I knew something was off.

"Her shoes are still here.."

She must be home, but why is the house so dark? As I thought that I close the door behind me gently before turning on the light and taking off my shoes. Its not that unnatural for me to be here, I tend to visit Kaede's place sometimes, but most times we usually just hang out at my place. However this will be my first time coming in without a welcoming, I feel like a robber in a way. Making my way through the house, there is still no sign of anyone, not in the lounge nor kitchen, so after I make sure the first floor was empty, I decide to make my way up the stairs heading towards Kaede's room.

I turn a corner upstairs to find her room door open slightly. The sight of it is a bit eerie as the only light coming from upstairs was the pulsating light coming from her room. I slowly approach the door before peeping inside. The light was coming from the sunlight at her open window, the light breaching through with the wind blowing pasting the curtains. With the light bursting through, I see what appears to be a sleeping Kaede in bed still in her uniform. I open the door slowly, before gently coming inside. Thankfully the creaking sound of the door didn't wake her as I make my way to the bed, now getting a clear view and what I noticed was her pillow was a little wet. "Has she been crying?"

*bzzzz~*

Wondering what to do, I hear a phone notification, but it didn't come from my phone, however it came from a phone at the bedside table, it was Kaede's. Thankfully it was on vibrate and it didn't appear to have woken her. I decide to approach her phone to see the notification.

Message: Mom

Sorry we couldn't make it in time, we'll be back tomorrow I promise. Did you-

The message cut off as it was just a preview from the notification before fading to black.

So her parents weren't home for her graduation? What kind of bullshit is that? And they aren't even coming back tonight as well? A wave of anger and pain coursed through my chest. What coincidence it was for me to arrive right on time to see that, but then again I wish I didn't read that as for a few moments all I could feel was anger. What would be more important than their own daughter's graduation?

"Yui-"

I turn away from the bedside table towards a familiar voice.

Yui: "Ah sorry, did I wake you?"

Kaede: "No, I couldn't sleep"

After that brief exchange, light once more breached through the curtains into the room, revealing her face. Her slightly swollen, puffy eyes told me what I thought; Its as I expected. I couldn't bring myself to say anything as my body moved on its own suddenly hugging her tightly, my fingers digging into the back of her uniform.

Kaede: "Yu-"

Yui: "Why didn't you say something?"

Kaede: "Eh?"

Yui: "You were crying weren't you? I knew something was wrong so I rushed over here"

Kaede: "...Sorry"

Yui: "What are you saying?"

Kaede: "I made you worry when your supposed to be with your family right now"

I can hear her pained voice as I feel my shoulder get slightly wet

Yui: "My parents are fine, they went out to get groceries, more importantly where are YOUR parents?"

Kaede: "They're... They're away. Celebrating their anniversary. They told me to take care of the house for a few days."

Yui: "Why didn't you tell me?"

Kaede: "I didn't want to burden you, it's something my parents asked of me.. Anyways I'm used to this"

Yui: "To hell with that. We're partners, a team, we should rely on each other. Plus you're obviously not used to it if your crying like this"

Kaede: "..."

I feel her wrap her arms around me. My shoulder starting to feel more wet as we stay in our embrace. After a few moments of silence with us in this position, she tightens her grasp around me, her arms trembling slightly.

Kaede: "Thank you..."

After hearing that soft response, I stopped feeling the drips of water hitting my shoulder as I gently push myself back. Our faces meeting with our hands moving down in front of us, clasping each other's hands.

Yui: "If your parents are out celebrating then why don't we have a little celebration of our own?"

Kaede: "Eh? isn't it tomorrow?

Actually Kaede and I's anniversary is tomorrow, back from our first date. We planned on going out tomorrow to celebrate it, but after discovering the state Kaede is in, there is no way I'm leaving her alone.

Yui: "Yes, but I'm not leaving you"

Kaede: "I don't want to go out like this, can't we just stay here? Can... you stay? I don't want to be alone"

After hearing those words, I go to sit down on the bed next to her. Kaede almost immediately lays back down after seeing me get in bed with her, the smile on her face washes away all that anger and pain I felt before as I slowly lay down on the bed facing towards her. The blankets underneath us as it was still quite warm.

We don't say anything for a while as we lay there with our hands interlocked together. I recall the time when we first shared a bed like this. We still didn't know what we were doing, and even still as young adults we still have no clue. As I recall that time, a flashback of us sharing our first kiss was in a situation similar to this. Of course without all the tears, and we were in my room instead of Kaede's. While I was lost in thought reminiscing of those memories, a gentle soft warmth attacked my lips, as I only just now figured out what it was.

Opening my eyes I see that Kaede had kissed me, her alluring eyes hidden by her luscious eyelashes as she draws me in with her embrace, wrapping her arms around me. I close my eyes as I indulge myself, letting her continue the kiss until I feel something smack in between my lips, as if it was trying to pry them open. Without hesitation, I allow her tongue to explore mine, succumbing to the overwhelming passion of the moment. Though I had not intended for things to escalate this quickly, I find myself unable to resist as I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close to me. our chests now pressed up against one another.

My mind was going blank, as It felt like she was sucking away all my energy. With both of us panting between our kiss as things started to heat up, Kaede moved herself on top of me, not breaking our kiss for even a moment. My hands moving on their own, down her slender-

*RING RING~*

Just as things were starting to get heated, a blaring sound erupted in the room, making both of us startled as Kaede hopped off from me. It was coming from my phone pocket. I don't know whether to be thankful or disappointed that we got cut off as I take my phone out from the pocket that is still blaring away.

Yui: "Sorry, mom is calling.."

Kaede: "...Its okay"

Kaede seems flustered from being interrupted suddenly in our kiss before as I give her a pained smile before answering the call, shutting up the noisy phone.

Yui: "Mom?"

Mom: "Hi where are you? we just came home, are you okay?"

Yui: "Yes, I'm just at Kaede's"

Mom: "Oh? Then why don't you ask Kaede and her parents to come over for dinner? We have plenty to go round"

Yui: "Ah, her parents aren't here"

Dad: "Then just bring Kaede with you! More for us haha!"

I could hear dad talking from afar, mom probably put her phone on speaker. And in response, I do the same and switch my phone to speaker mode.

Mom: "Yes, bring her with you, you two can celebrate graduation together. Oh but make sure it is okay with her parents"

Kaede: "It's fine, I can come!"

Mom: "Oh Kaede? So its fine with your parents?"

Kaede: "Mhmm!"

Mom: "Fantastic, then I'll go start getting dinner ready. You two should hurry back before it gets dark out"

Yui: "Yes, we'll head back now. See you soon"

The calls ends as I face towards Kaede as both of us are now sitting back upright. The sadness I saw on her face appears to have disappeared as I see her face lit up with a big smile on her face.

Yui: "We should start heading back now, don't want to keep mom waiting"

Kaede: "Mhmm!"