Archaeologist

He allows himself to be held, allowing himself to fold into Tilla as if he’s nothing more than a rag doll. His eyes sleep shut, as Kotono sighs against her.

“When things like this happen…People form their own opinions of you before even meeting you.” He’s reluctant to talk about it, the words seem like poision against his own tongue, and he can’t hold back the bitterness in his tone.

“I didn’t want you to think-”

“Didn’t want me to think what?” She interjected with a harsh tone. Tilla pulled back so he would look at her - look at her. The woman wanted him to read her lips and look at her in the eye as she told him this.

“You are bound to find out eventually.” It his consent to continue with the video. However as it starts, he keeps his gaze down. Both away from Tilla herself and the screen.

It’s…a crime documentary, and a very old one by the looks of it. What this could possibly have to do with Kotono is unknown, at least until the intro starts. 

“A notorious family massacred, the infant son kidnapped, and no clues left behind. That is…until tonight. Police have found the missing boy, Kotono Nishi, twelve years after the original investigation.”

She had seemed to be holding her breath throughout the documentary, her eyes widening at the pure horror Kotono had to witness and endure. It was nothing like her own demons, his was breaking him down even now. Before she even reached the end, Tilla ejected the tape, disgusted with the man that did all of this.

And she turned back to Kotono, flinging herself onto him as she embraced him - her arm holding him so tightly. The young woman didn’t have tears to shed, she didn’t like tears anyway, but she continued to hold him to her chest as she shook.

He nods his head at the advice, pausing his talking to breathe properly and relax himself. None of this would be worth it if he couldn’t keep himself together. 

“There’s a VHS in my desk, would you grab it for me?”

Tilla removed her sweater and folded it up for him to use as a pillow while she moved. Getting up and cautiously approaching his desk, she scanned each drawer until she came across a VHS. Walking to the the player, she was about to put it in before regarding Kotono again.

Really he…doesn’t get it. Doesn’t get her apparent devotion and attachment to him. It makes him feel a complexity of things. Should he be happy, or worried that of all people she would chose him?

But feeling like this isn’t new to Kotono. He shoves the feelings aside for now.

She cares. She does care.

“I want to tell you.” 

He can’t, not with his own words, but he can show her.

Slowly blinking rose eyes, she moved her face away to get a better look at him. He was determined, it seemed, and she wasn’t going to deny him that. “Then tell me, Kotono. You know I only want to help you.” If this was another incident of someone being horribly mean to Kotono again, Tilla didn’t know if she’d be able to keep herself from killing the person.

There is so much about him, about his life that Tilla doesn’t know. Kotono knows that the longer he has this episode of panic, the closer he is to exposing himself, and he doesn’t want that. Tilla see’s him as an actual person, and he refuses to ruin that by bringing his past into things.

Kotono focuses on her, on the cool fingers cupping his over heated face, and the sound of her words even with the far off quality they have to them. The unbuttoning of his shirt helps, he’s able to get choked panicked breathes in to his struggling lungs, and slowly they re-balance out into slow healthy breathing. 

He’s calming now, silent, and slumped against Tilla. Silent tears streaming down his face. 

He doesn’t know how he’s going to explain this to her. Tilla won’t take his silence as an answer, but he can’t delve into the truth. He can’t because truly, he doesn’t want to believe what he saw. That after so many years it would appear his past is catching up with him.

She held him so close, her arms tightening around him like it was going to help keep him together. Tilla knew he hadn’t told her much about him self - and neither did she. They focused on the now and not the past, they wanted to both look ahead. Every day, she found herself having more and more fun - instead of holing herself up in her apartment and eating buckets of ice cream along. Kotono was helping her break out of a cycle of remorse and guilt.

But she wanted to know how to help him too. His presence was always so...silent. She knew he usually couldn’t put his feelings into words, so she let him cry against her chest as slender fingers gently stroked his hair.

“Shhh...” The amethyst haired woman shushed him, hoping he’d understand that he didn’t have to say a word to her. She was going to stay with him even if he never said another word about this incident. “I know it’s...hard to tell me what you wanna tell me.” She paused. “ And I know you don’t want me seeing you as anything less but Kotono, you’re more than a person to me. You’re a life. I don’t know if you’ll ever tell me what the hell that was all about, but if it happens again - I will hold you just as tightly. I will scream your name to heaven and to hell just to get you to hear me. I’ll even cut out my own tongue if it’ll get you to calm down.” There was a weak laugh from the woman as she buried her face into his hair.

He seems more panicked then physically harmed. A mental ailment. He’s hyperventilating, scratching at his collar in an attempt to either unbutton it or loosen the tie around his throat.

His desk is a mess. It seems that before he’d fall he’d thrown things a bit in some sort of fit. His computer is the only thing spared, and seems to be open to a security feed of the building. 

Kotono feels himself being lifted, but doesn’t struggle. He’s much too in shock, his mind is reeling, and his body is struggling to keep up.

Her gentle fingers cupped his face, his upper half still supported in her lap. “Kotono, look at me! I’m here. Calm down. You’re okay! You’re safe!” She didn’t know what could have brought such a violent outburst from him. She had never seen him in this sort of distress!

“The same?”

He had never considered himself and Tilla to be the same. Sure they were to kindred spirits, professionals who others often saw as strange and unapproachable but…

Kotono nods at her words, closing his eyes, and giving a gentle sigh.

Yes, we are the same…

“Thank you Tilla, really I am lucky to have such a good friend.”

“It’s no problem! We’re going to have so much fun over at my place. We’ll have movie nights, and play board games, and help with each others research, and do lots of fun stuff!” It would be the first time anyone has ever come to live with her, and she was more than excited. Every day would be filled with something new - she was sure of it.

Kotono might have seemed a little distant at first, he might even seem cold to other people, but she knew he was a kind person deep down inside. He just didn’t know how to express it to people that he wasn’t close to.

And she wished they would grow closer.

Myths and Legends; they often change over time or remain the same. It could be the same for himself for he was a creature of shadow, or as the humans would describe his kind ‘shadow people’ - shadowy spiritual beings or supernatural entities such as shades of the underworld, or described as menacing, other believers and paranormal enthusiast don’t agree whether his species are either evil, helpful, or neutral, and some even speculate that shadow people may be the extra-dimensional inhabitants of another universe.

Sora liked to keep them guessing, it was fun to see what the humans would think up next. 

“Heh, I never back out on my promises! It’s kinda nice to see someone who isn’t well.. I guess you can say consider the ‘norm’? I’m really happy to be back honestly, and I really missed you a lot! Oh, before I forget-!”

True as a deity of a higher class than human, or even ‘ghost’, it was only natural that benevolence(at least in his nature compared to his older brother, Vanitas) he would bring a small offering to her soul. From his jacket did he pull out a flower; a rare dark pink rose an expression of thankfulness to the deceased. 

Half of his body was now covered in the ink black darkness which continue its creeping along side his mortal disguise, the golden hue shined in delight for his friend. Reaching out towards her, the clawed hand delicately placed it into her hand. Yes, the shadow deity held the power to touch the decease, and he was very happy to do so- the soul of this girl, it was warm, loving and full of purity.

Yet he knew that sorrow harbor deep inside… This poor girl did not live her life fully as planned, and she was mistaken as a demon among ignorant fools. Sometimes humans were just so… odd. Oh well. 

Sora had rubbed the back of his head sheepishly as he gently kicked his right foot as if he was kicking an imaginary pile of dirt, bashfully grinning,

“I hope you like it.”

His hand never left her. 

Her cheeks were dusted with a light undertone of pink when her glittering rose hues landed on the flower. It had been a while since someone had offered her something. Usually she’d get sage or something burned in her face. It was pleasant.

“Oh! This is such a sweet gesture, Sora!” With her free hand, she took the flower and held it up to the light to get a better look, her other hand taking hold of Sora’s own tightly. Something as simple as this was taken for granted when she was smaller, when she was alive. Just feeling his warmth and his presence was enough to calm her. The nights had been growing longer/

She had been lonely.

“Oh Sora! Can you believe it? They closed off the basement!” She gasped, placing the flower behind her ear, letting her hair fall around it - contracting nicely with the color. “That means no one is going to find my body. Can you believe how ignorant they are?” She huffed, tugging him along so she could show him to her “room”. The one where she haunted the most.

A stark white room with drawings in it.

Something is terribly wrong. The usually stoic seemingly emotionless doctor is in a panic. His breathing is uneven, bordering on becoming hyperventilating, and as he clutches violently at his chest in an attempt to get air his knees give. 

He hits the ground with a sickening crunch of his legs and a panicked scream.

Work was boring.

It was the only sentence she could describe the day as. After taking Kotono to his lab, and escorting herself to her classes, the day seemed to go by at the snails pace. But finally it was nearing night and she was able to go home!

Tilla packed up her supplies and walked all the way to the lab where Kotono was currently residing him --- but screams nearly made the woman fall onto her face.

Kotono?! 

That was clearly his voice!

He gives a gentle sigh, but her words do sooth him. Kotono relaxes in his chair, if only a little. 

“Hopefully it won’t be that long until I’m on my feet again…” It’s said softly, in a defeated manner, even though truly he’s glad for the offer. And really…Going to work everyday with Tilla is not a bad thing if you ask him.

Kotono doesn’t know how to explain. Before hand he had always assumed that Tilla knew who he was. He’s not a vain man by any means, but he knows that the case was famous for a long time, and even on the odd occasion now a reporter or a particularly bold stranger will try to ask him about his ‘escape’.

It feels silly he has to admit to it. 

“I want your help, it’s not you, it’s not you it’s me.” Aren’t those words associated with bad things? “Growing up was…I grew up in a very bad situation. I do not know what it is like to receive help. I don’t know how to properly respond to help.”

It still doesn’t explain his years of self neglect. When he’d first escaped he’d done a wonderful job of taking care of himself given the situation, but slowly…slowly Kotono deteriorated into the man now, who worked himself so hard while refusing medical attention that he wound up unable to walk.

“Well I’m glad you’re finally coming to you senses and letting me take care of you!” With a newfound spring to her step, Tilla jumped to her feet and came to stand before Kotono. “And if you look on the bright side, we can get massively wasted without worry about banging each other!”

If only for the fact that he was in a wheelchair and it would be a hassle to get him out of it anyway. But she was dumb - not really thinking her words through before shouting it at the top of her lungs.

He isn’t sure how to react to the offer. He’s shocked, that much is obvious, and a bit embarrassed. If he had known how obvious he was in his lack of self care he would have tried much harder to hide it. 

“I…”

“I appreciate the offer.”

He really does despite how tense and uncomfortable he seems now. Would he ever be able to take her up on the offer? Truly he doubts it. Never in his life had anyone ever genuinely wanted to help him, at least the way he looked at things it seemed that way, how would he react when someone did.

“Kotono...” She trailed off again, shifting her weight so she would be in his line of sight again. Really, with how much effort she put into this man - it was a miracle he wasn’t sick and tired of her already.

“If you’re uncomfortable with what I say, or my very presence, you should say something. Going ridged isn’t going to solve anything.” She placed her hand on his knee reassuringly. “I want you to have happy days, so it looks like I’m going to have to drive you now - and help you out at work.” If anyone tried to take advantage of him again, she’d send them to the hospital.

"Excuse me, but you’ve got a little something on your face there."

"Well... this is awkward."

"I guess this is the part where we shake hands and say 'nice to meet you', right?"

"I've seen you here before, but I guess I just never had the courage to say hello before."

"I'm so excited to finally meet you in person! I've always dreamed of this."

"Sorry, but, um... am I the only one confused here? Why hasn't anyone else showed up?"

"Watch out!"

"Am I dead? Are you an angel?"

"Okay, okay, listen. I miiiiight have had a little too much, and I miiight need someone to help me get home. You look trustworthy, so let's go."

"I'm sorry--please, can you help me?"

"I look forward to working with you."

"I look forward to serving you."

"Stay still! I'm trying to stop the bleeding!"

"I'm not trying to be nosy or anything, but... I've been seeing you here a lot lately, always by yourself. I just wanted to say, if you have anything on your mind, I'd listen."

"Um, I know you don't know me, but I think what you did back there was very brave."