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Chapter 1 - Sleep Tight
“I am the box ghost!”
“Kioko, could you please turn it down?” I pleaded with a sigh.
“Okay,” Kioko responded from the other room. I waited patiently for a few seconds, in which time the volume from the television didn’t seem to decrease at all. Sighing, I slammed my over sized biology book shut and headed over to the living room. Kioko was sitting on the large couch staring with wide-eyed vacancy at the TV, clutching a large, stuffed hamster to her chest. Our long-haired gray tabby, Cornelia, was curled up next to her, her ears twitching every so often in her sleep.
I grabbed the remote off the coffee table and switched the TV off.
“Hey!” Kioko cried out in surprise, jumping up from her seat. Cornelia echoed her cried and also jumped off the couch. I swear she glared at me before stalking off. That cat never liked me. Kioko reached for the remote but I, being a whole foot taller than her, held it safely out of her reach. “Give it back!”
“I asked you at least ten times to turn it down,” I was quick to inform her. She soon came to the conclusion that jumping was not working. She crossed her arms, stuck out her bottom lip and frowned.
“No fair Ray!” She cried, stomping her foot.
“Now, now Kioko, that will get you no where,” I scolded, shaking my head. I wagged my finger at her as though she was misbehaving puppy. Kioko also knew pouting wouldn’t work, no matter how fun it was. So she played her trump card. She cried. My no-doubt smug-looking smile dropped as she began to bawl. I blushed and began waving my hands frantically, something that had been pointed out to me that I do quite often when I’m nervous.
“Kioko! Please don’t cry!”
“Ray-Ray hates me!” She wailed, crocodile tears falling faster and harder than Niagara Falls.
“No, no, no!” I pleaded, a growing feeling of dread rising in my gut. I thrust the remote control into her hands. “Here! I don’t hate you! Don’t cry!”
“Yay!” Kioko squealed, the waterworks dying instantly. She plopped down on the couch and switched on the TV to Cartoon Network. I sighed and walked behind the couch and leaned over the back of the couch and rested my chin on her shoulder.
“Aren’t you a little old to be watching cartoons?” I asked, tired.
“No,” She answered with out taking her eyes off the TV.
“You’re a freshman in high school Kio,” I informed her.
“So?” She asked, totally innocent to the fact that most fifteen year olds didn’t religiously watch Danny Phantom.
“Never mind,” I sighed. “Anyways, have you finished your homework?”
“Have you finished yours?” I remained silent. “Well?”
“No…”
“People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” She said, trying and failing to sound like Confucius.
“I’ve at least started my homework,” I said defensively.
“Whatever,” she finished. We sat in silence for a few minutes, watching Danny fight some ghost or something. I never really got this show. I guess I shouldn’t really insult Kioko’s taste in television, she’s never once complained when we watch what I want. She sometimes will even watch Law & Order with me, even though I can tell she doesn’t like that fact that there’s not always a happy ending.
Cornelia jumps back up on the couch next to Kioko and curls up next her. I absentmindedly reach out to pet her. Bad idea. I pull my hand back abruptly as the pain from her claws spread from the base of my thumb to my wrist and grew red.
“Damn it,” I hissed, glaring at that viscous fur ball.
“Ray!” Kioko scolded, twisting in her seat to face me.
“She scratched me!” I cried in my defense, showing her my injured hand. Kioko stared at it for a second. She looked somewhat confused at first, as if she didn’t understand that I was hurt and bleeding. Then she took my hand in hers, gently. I recognized the look in her eyes, half-closed and glazed over as if she were in a trance. I had long learned not to try to shake her from this state, so I let her be as she slowly caressed my hand.
“Shh…” She cooed, as if I were some scared child. I remembered the first time I had heard that voice from her, when I really was a scared child. I tried not to think about it. She placed a fingertip at the beginning of my wound and closed her eyes. I felt the slight warmth emit from her as she ran her finger over the cut and it closed up like a zipper, leaving only the faintest of scars. Suddenly I’m all too aware of her soft hands lingering on my rough ones like rain. I pulled away sharply, which broke her from her trance. She blinked a few times, then looks down and I wonder if I’d upset her. Then she looked up with a smile.
“You need hand lotion Ray,” She informed me cheerfully. I sighed and shake my head.
“Whatever. Look, it’s already 9 o'clock and we gotta be at school by six tomorrow so let's get some rest okay?” I started to walk away, slowly at first, waiting to hear if she follows. The TV suddenly snaps off and I can hear her get up…
“Whoa…” Kioko moaned and I whirled around fast. Kioko reached out and put a hand on the arm of the couch and the other floated gracefully up to her forehead, looking somewhat dazed.
“Damn Kioko,” I cursed, rushing to her side. “I could have used a band-aid if healing wears you out!”
“Don’t swear,” She said, frowning. “It wasn’t healing you. I just…stood up to fast and got dizzy is all…” She tries to walk a few steps on her own but I saw her swaying slightly. I grabbed her hand and pulled her back to me. “Ray…” She moaned, weariness seeping into her voice.
“Lean on me okay,” I mumbled, holding her hand firmly. She hesitates, but only for a second. Then she rested her head lightly, I almost want to use the word ‘daintily’, on my shoulder as we walk slowly up the stairs to our separate bedrooms to enter the world of dreams...
***
I remember the day Kioko disappeared almost perfectly. My mother worked all day until around at least 5:00, if not 6:00, and my father wouldn’t pick me up even if he was sober. Not like I wanted him to anyways. So I stayed with an after-school program called Recreation-Station, or Rec-Station for short. That day, before I headed over the the gym and cafeteria where Rec-Station was held, I said good-bye to Kioko and walked her from our first grade classroom to the doors of the school. I could see a car on the street near the playground that I thought was Kioko’s fathers. She did too. She hugged me goodbye and ran out. I watched from the door until she got to the car. The slide blocked my view of her at this point, but I assumed she got in because a second later the car was driving away. I began walking back towards the gym to sign in for Rec-Station when the secretary from the office ran out into the hall. She recognized me and smiled.
“Ray,” She said, pecking at me over her glasses. “Can you go grab Kioko? Her father just called. He’s running late and won’t be able to pick her up.”
My heart stopped.
***
“Ray?” Kioko’s small and sleepy voice called from somewhere off behind and above me. I turned in bed to see her standing on the black-iron, spiral staircase that lead from my bedroom to mine. She was wearing huge, over sized flannel pajamas, the sleeves covering her hands that held a worn teddy bear, Crissie. She held Crissie up in front of her face, hiding her mouth in the most child-like gesture. God, she was so cute.
“Kioko,” I moaned, glancing at the clock. 3:24. Great. I looked back at her. “Kioko, you know you’re not supposed to some into my room without knocking,” I informed her, failing to achieve the accusing tone I wanted.
“I know,” She whispered, holding Crissie up higher, hiding everything below her eyes. Crissie’s fur was worn away in some places and one of her eyes was threatening to fall out. That poor bear, how long had she had it? Kioko’s hands tightened around Crissie’s waist. “I had a nightmare…” She whispered, her voice high and thin, remembering whatever it was that had haunted her dreams. Her eyes looked to be on the edge of tears. Damn her and all her cuteness. I tossed back my covers and scooted to one side.
“Come on, you can sleep with me,” I told her. She smiled, lowering Crissie to show me. Why was her smile so innocent and dazzling? I couldn’t resist it no matter how hard I tried. She skipped down the stairs in her bare feet, humming a little. She skipped over to my bed and hopped in as I threw the covers back over both of us. She cuddled up next to me, Crissie in the crook of her arm, and hugged me a little. I tried to keep my face from turning a lovely shade of scarlet. God she was so sweet and innocent.
“Thank you Ray-Ray,” She murmured, drifting into sleep already. I petted her head a little and pushed a little hair out of her beautiful face.
“Goodnight Kioko,” I whispered back as I, too, entered sleep.
