Warm Feelings

She may shove him away, but he will follow her. Masayuki made a promise and he’s going to keep it. But why does he do this? What does he get out of it? Initially, Masayuki wanted something interesting to chase off. Soul-travelling, the ghost world, and the secrets of Suiten were thrilling enough. It wouldn’t hurt to have one more mystery. A ghost looking for her killer was right up his alley.

Baby Doll wasn’t a fan of his. He saw it written all over her face. If she didn’t need him, she would try and avoid him with all costs. But lately, she has softened a bit. But, not by much. It didn’t matter to him. Masayuki became intrigued by this mystery and wanted to see this through.

Another motive started to rise to surface. He didn’t even see it at the time. The boy still doesn’t know what to call it. Part, of Masayuki wanted to protect her. She didn’t really need it and he didn’t know what he was protecting her from.

“Look, if you need me for anything,” he said one day in the library. “You can call me. I will be there for you.” Baby Doll gave him a strange look.

“Okay…” she said. Masayuki didn’t know why it came out like that. He just felt like it needed to be said. Something told him that she would need to be by his side more often as the days wore on.

Nothing could be truer than what they were experiencing right now.

Masayuki could tell that she wasn’t her right now. Baby Doll kept fading in and out of her mind. When she came back, she was sweating and pale. She looked so pale as she trembled.

“Are you okay?” he whispered on night one. She turned to him, panting.

“Yes,” she said. The ghost girl looked like she was about to faint. Masayuki used his body to keep her sitting up.

“Stay with me, okay?” he said. “Can you hear me?” She looked up at him and tried to nod.

“Good,” Masayuki said. “Can I get you anything? Do you need any water or something like that?”

“Yes,” Baby Doll said in a hoarse whisper.

“Okay, I can get you that,” he whispered. “Just hang onto me, okay?” Baby Doll nodded once. Masayuki looped his arm under hers and pulled her in closer.

“You ready?” he asked. “I’m going to pull you and we’re going to walk into the kitchen, you got it?”

“Okay,” she said.

“Ready? One… Two… Three…” Masayuki said. The boy pulled her to her feet. She felt heavier than she usually was.

“You still with me?” he asked. Baby Doll nodded as if she was dozing off. Masayuki shook her from side to side.

“Stay with me,” he said. “I can’t have you passing out on me. You have to walk with me, okay?” She spoke, but he could barely hear her. He knew that he had to move right away. Masayuki did most of the walking as he hauled Baby Doll to the kitchen for some water.

Taro and Makoto had been watching from their corner of the room. They too could tell that something was off with Baby Doll. The angels had a better grasp of what it was, but they lacked the details. Natalia herself hoped that it wasn’t what she thought it was.