2 02 - Of Clans and Complicated Friendship

Ojiro met Kyouko in 4th Grade. She was a transferee and he has been at that school ever since he was in 1st Grade. They sat beside each other and after a week, they were inseparable. Kyouko considered Ojiro her first best friend and from elementary up to high school, Ojiro and Kyouko were always together. Nozomi joined them when they were in Senior Highschool. Some people even mistake Ojiro and Kyouko for being a couple but they laugh it out. Kyouko always knew that she was just Ojiro's best friend but Ojiro feels otherwise. Or so he thinks he does.

"You've been with Kyouko all your life, Jiro. Why can't you decide for your own?" Ojiro's mother, Mrs. Kusonagi, halted Ojiro's thoughts about his homework. "Huh?" Ojiro, asked again as if he did not hear what his mom said. His family did not really like Kyouko but they don't hate her too. It was because Ojiro keeps tagging along with Kyouko that's why his parents are kind of annoyed. "I said, when are you going to stop tagging along with Kyouko? You're engaged to Nozomi. Isn't she annoyed with your best friend?" his mother asked once again. Come to think of it, Ojiro never thought about it that way. Was Nozomi jealous? He let out a sigh. "Mom, Kyo, Nozomi, and I are best of friends since senior high school. Nozomi knows that I treat Kyo like a sister. And we're not yet engaged. I haven't proposed yet." Ojiro answered irritably. Because of their clans, Nozomi and Ojiro were pre-destined to be together. "You and Nozomi will eventually be engaged so you better tell your best friend to know her place." his mother said sternly before going to their kitchen. Ojiro looked at her in disbelief. Kyouko always knew her place. Ojiro was the one who didn't.

"Nozomi and I... we're pre-destined to be together."

"Like an arranged marriage?"

"Yeah. She knows it. I know it. Our clans know it."

"Nozomi is a wonderful girl. She suits you."

"Yeah, I know... but..."

"But?"

Ojiro hesitates for a moment as he looks at Kyouko who was busy taking a photo of the sunset that day. It was after their final exams and Nozomi had to leave for home early so Ojiro and Kyouko went home together. He was about to confess but he was torn because he didn't want their friendship to be ruined. Kyouko looked back at Ojiro who was spacing out, "Hey, you said but." she teased, "Nothing. I forgot what I was about to tell you." Ojiro chuckled, "But I like you." he told himself. Kyouko laughed and continued walking.

The first time Ojiro introduced Kyouko to his family, his grandmother who was a shrine priestess opposed Kyouko. Ojiro never forgot that day.

"Thank you for inviting me to dinner, Mrs. Kusonagi, Mr. Kusonagi. I brought cake." Kyouko bowed as she gave Mrs. Kusonagi the cake. "Why, this is a delicious one! I like the cakes made in this bakery." Mrs. Kusonagi beamed at her, she looked at Ojiro and they exchanged smiles. "So, Kyouko, where are your parents? I told my son to invite them too." Mr. Kusonagi asked, "Oh, uh... they're out of the country. They handle hotel chains in Japan, Korea, Europe, and the US." Kyouko replied. "So do you live alone?" Mrs. Kusonagi asked, her eyebrows raised. "Ah, no. I live with my nanny." Kyouko replied. There was an awkward silence when, "Mom, we're heading to the shrine after dinner," Ojiro announced, breaking it.

"So do you really sense evil and goodness?" Kyouko asked curiously as they were making their way up the shrine steps. "My grandmother who's a priestess can. I don't know if I can." Ojiro replied. "I wonder if I'm evil..." Kyouko mumbled. "Hmm?" Ojiro asked, "Nothing." Kyouko gave a small chuckle. "If you were evil then, I should be an angel guiding you to the right path," he said jokingly. Kyouko laughed.

As they reached the shrine, Ojiro approached her grandmother to introduce Kyouko only to be cut off, "Your friend shouldn't be here. This shrine has been purified. You should have not been friends with that girl. She is ominous. There is something about her that I couldn't put my finger on." Kyouko and Ojiro were taken by surprise by his grandmother's words. "I- I'm sorry." Kyouko bowed at Ojiro's grandmother. "I'll leave you two to talk," she told Ojiro but he grabbed her hand, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought you here. We're leaving, grandma," he told his grandmother and they left the shrine.

"I told you, I must be evil."

"Grandma's old. She must be having a tough day. A lot of people come to the shrine for blessings nowadays."

"Maybe she's right. Come to think of it, I haven't told you everything about me."

"Kyo, look, I don't really care if you're good or evil. You're my best friend and that's what I know."

"Jiro, I-..."

"Don't think about what you heard from my grandmother."

"You're grandmother's right about me. Do you want to know what happened to my friend before you?" Kyouko thought as she looked at Ojiro, trying to hold back her tears.

After that day, Kyouko stopped going to Ojiro's place and distanced herself a bit from him. And that was also the day when his parents began complaining that he was spending too much time with Kyouko.

Ojiro took a sip from his coffee as he felt nostalgic for his memories of Kyouko. He liked her. No, he loved her. She was always there when he needed her and she was the one who makes him feel happy but he needs to stop these complicated feelings for her because of Nozomi. Nozomi was his future. She wasn't like Kyouko but she is kind and understanding, and he didn't want to break her heart. Ojiro let out a long sigh. He needs to decide before he falls any further. He gets his phone from his pocket and sends Kyouko a message.

"Kyou!! Help me!!"

"Kyou!!! Don't let me go!!"

Cold, wet, and blurry. There was nothing else that she could see but Akira's body sinking down. No oxygen bubbles coming out of him. His bloodshot eyes, fixed at her.

"How could you leave me, Kyou?"

Kyouko opened her eyes, panting.

It was just a dream. It was. Was it not? She hugged her knees and rocked herself back and forth as her phone alerted her of a message from Ojiro.

Tears fell down her cheeks.

TO BE CONTINUED.

A/N:

Hello! Thank you for reading Paralyzed! I'm thinking of updating twice a week! And sorry if I'm boring you out with this story but I hope you'll give it a chance. See you next update! <3 -J.