Chapter 18:An awkward dinner

Christopher pov. 

It was quite a journey to get the clothes and food, first of all and foremost going through the halls looking for women to ask for clothes from was... counterproductive, women upon seeing me would run, faint or just hide, this situation remained so until I met an older woman, who stopped me of her own free will and we arranged where things were to be taken. 

"Thank you very much!"

"Easy, young man, you looked desperate and were making the work in the house more difficult than usual with your actions."

Despite his surprise due to my thanks, he doesn't falter and continues to speak naturally with the occasional hitch in his sentences and erratic glance wandering around the two companions every now and then.

"In that case I apologize for the inconvenience, now could you please tell me what time the food and clothing would be?"

My polite language doesn't seem to be convincing enough or his distrust for me is in the clouds, then again his eyes began to glance sideways before stopping on a 16 year old girl next to him. 

"The lady to my right will accompany you along with the change of clothes this instant and if the young lady you brought is injured she will help you dress, on the subject of food I can assure you it will arrive the moment you finish dressing that lady."

"Perfect, do you need time to pick up the clothes?"

Ignoring her pale face as if she had been sentenced to death, I ask her if she needs time to go get the change of clothes, but before she can answer me, the young lady on the left passes her a basket of clothes. 

"N, n, No."

"I'll say goodbye then, let's go."

Giving her a gentle nod towards the older lady, I speak to the one carrying the clothes, so she follows me in the direction of my room. 

Walking 5 minutes we reach the corridor that leads to my section, the door that connects the main house with the hallway where I reside is open and a light escapes from inside, this confirms that the door to my residence is also open. Wanting to know what has happened, I slightly increase my speed of movement, causing the wood to make a soft noise as I pass by.

"Akemi what happened here, mmm... she's not here?"

The room is in complete silence and a depressive aura hovers in the air as I continue to look to the sides confirming Akemi's absence and as a last measure focus my gaze on Kikyo who has her eyes lost as she sits on the futon. 

"I brought you a change of clothes."

"I don't need it."

Her voice oozes hatred and contempt, but not at me, but at herself or what she represents, making it apparent that there is a complex story behind her situation. 

"Tell me that when you don't wear rags, uh come in and dress her."

Refusing to accept her answer, I gave her a few words to remind her of the condition of her clothes and at her piercing look, she called the girl who stayed outside, so she dressed her, meanwhile I left the room. 

10 minutes later... 

*zaz*

With the sound of the sliding door, the clothes girl comes out of the room and in her basket now lies the damaged miko outfit. 

"Did it make the situation difficult for you?"

It was a random question, but one that might show me a hint of the mood Kikyo is in. She shakes her head before smiling and saying a few words under her breath. 

"It was difficult at first, as she wouldn't respond to any words, but after explaining that I would get in trouble if I didn't, she let me dress her in peace."

"Thank you for your trouble. Oh, the food has arrived then you are dismissed."

Thanking the girl with the clothes and ignoring her surprise, I hear footsteps from the hallway causing me to turn my head to look and the person I see is the young woman on the right bringing the food. Knowing by her staggering steps and the movement of her eyes that she can't take it anymore, I reach over to grab the dishes and dismiss them before moving into the room. 

"You could move, well, that makes things easier."

Inside the room everything was still the same, except for Kikyo who was sitting on the side of the table, the candles lit for light and the lack of Akemi. 

"Small movements, yes, but who brought me here was the girl who just left."

Her voice no longer showed traces of resentment or hatred on the surface, only a monotone, even sarcastic towards her, one might say. Walking slowly I approach the table before setting the plates down next to her side and mine respectively, then sitting down across from her. 

"I don't need to eat."

"Neither do I... But I want to."

The first words placed us in a confrontation of gazes, my blue eyes against her brown ones. This stayed like this for a few moments, I even thought I felt Saya nearby, but my desire for food could be more and leaving a few words she grabbed the cutlery and I started to eat. Unable to see the complex emotions that briefly shone in her eyes.