Chapter 78

Yoshi hesitantly stared at Sahae. Everyone had gone outside, leaving Yoshi all alone with Sahae. What was he supposed to do now? Yoshi hadn't planned it this far. He pulled his sleeve over his hand, stepping slightly closer. After another moment, he lifted Sahae's chin, wiping a tear, however Sahae pushed him away. "Get away from me!"

Yoshi listened, lowering his hand, but he continued to stay in his place, not daring to back down. Sahae couldn't hurt him, he was tied up. "You're in no place to tell me what to do." Yoshi reasoned, grabbing a chair of his own. Sahae didn't say anything, continuing to stare at the ground. Yoshi frowned slightly. "Now you're not going to say anything? Whatever happened to your threats?" "Don't come near me."

Sahae's voice was shaky, hesitant. This was the first time Yoshi had seen a violent alter like this. Sahae finally looked up, glaring at Yoshi, however he didn't say a word. "Why? What am I going to do?" Yoshi was starting to wonder if the alter hated them, or was scared of them. Sahae sniffled, his face slightly flushed from crying. "Your going to hurt Hisoki." That were the words Yoshi was scared to hear.

"Me? I am? When have I ever tried to hurt Hisoki? When have I ever tried to make him feel anything other than love?" Yoshi scoffs. "In reality, the only person that's hurting Hisoki, is you. Have you ever thought of that, Sahae? He felt guilty, because you decided to put a knife to Baker's throat. Did you know that? But you did it to protect him? What would Baker ever do?"

Sahae was silent, staring down at the floor. His brown hair covered his face. Yoshi shakily let out a sigh, leaning back in his chair. "You need to understand that you're not protecting Hisoki, you're only hurting him-" Sahae shakes his head, not wanting to hear any of Yoshi's words. "Hisoki's weak. He can't handle love. It will only hurt him."

"Hisoki's not weak. He just has something that you don't. Trust."

At that moment, Sahae didn't seem like an adult. Instead, he seemed like a child, broken and cracked in many places. He was trying to grasp something that he hadn't understood, trying to finally understand it. Sahae's trust had been broken. Sahae only shook his head harder, his hands squeezing into tight fists.

"No, he is. He's weak and hurt and I need to protect him." Sahae yelled, his eyes flushing with tears as he angrily stared back at Yoshi. However, Yoshi's sympathetic eyes didn't break. "No you don't. Hisoki isn't a child anymore. He can talk to people without you having to hold his hand. He doesn't need to be coaxed through his life-"

"YES HE DOES! Akumu hurt him and now I have to protect him from-"

Yoshi grabbed Sahae's hands, peeling them from the tightened fists. "Sahae, listen to me." Sahae did, his voice quieting. He stared up at Yoshi, the fire in his heart being extinguished by his tears. "Akumu is gone. He won't hurt Hisoki or you anymore." Yoshi whispered softly. Finally, the brunette had realized something.

Sahae didn't hate him, nor was he scared of them. He was only a broken child, puffing himself up to seem scary, however on the inside, fear plagued his soul. He was scared of Akumu. And sadly, he saw Akumu in everyone.

Yoshi held Sahae's face in his hands, rubbing the salty tears away. Sahae's eyes were shut tight. "Do you believe it? Do you believe he's not here anymore?" Yoshi asked. Sahae didn't answer, but shook his head. Yoshi sighed. "You should. Hisoki believes it. So does Kiso and the other alter. Even Kiki knows it. Akumu hasn't been anywhere near your for years."

Yoshi just wanted him to believe the truth.

"Akumu was a bad person, and he was taken to prison a long time ago." Yoshi took a minute, listening only to Sahae's breathing. "You saved Hisoki, didn't you? You were the one that called the police?" Yoshi questioned. "Yeah.." Sahae answered, his voice soft and breathless. Yoshi smiled softly. There was no bitterness in his voice, no anger or vengeance. Not anymore.

"Thank you for saving my Hisoki."

Sahae finally opened his eyes. He stared in Yoshi's. He didn't frown, instead just silently staring at him. Finally, the alter smiled, reaching to grab his tied hands at Yoshi's shirt. At first Yoshi froze, thinking the altar was going to hurt him, however he did the opposite, only pulling him closer into a delicate kiss.

Yoshi could feel the salty tears on his soft lips. Yoshi smiled, his eyes fluttering shut. He stepped slightly closer as Sahae's grip on his shirt loosened until his hands lowered to his lap. After a beat, Sahae pulled away, a smile softly on his lips. Sahae had just kissed him. "Thank you."

No, Hisoki had.