Like Gum

As I begin walking back to the Inn, I feel a presence next to me. I grit my teeth, already knowing who it is without even looking. I come to a stop and turn to glare at him. He doesn't seem bothered as he reaches out to my hair.

I jerk back and say, "Touch me and you'll lose your hand." He looks at me in surprise before asking "Do you not find me attractive?" Again, I find myself looking at him as if he's insane. I blink a few times before saying "Sure, but it doesn't make up for the crazy. Don't touch me."

I try to walk again but he steps in front of me and looks genuinely surprised and pleased. "You're the first woman who hasn't thrown themselves at me. How refreshing. Lyra, right? That's what the man called you before he left."

At this point, I don't even bother looking surprised. I give him a dry look as I say, "There will be more women who will think the same way I do, don't worry." I try to walk around him, but he blocks my path. My anger begins to build as my patience wanes.

I look up and glare at him as I bite out "Move." He looks down at me and says "I have jade the same color as your eyes. Is that a normal color where you're from?" I grit my teeth and take a deep breath before saying "If I answer a few of your questions will you leave me alone?"

He thinks about it for a moment before nodding. I sigh and say "There are many with different shades of green, blue, and brown in my world. They also have different colored hair. Blonde, brown, black and if they're feeling colorful, they can dye it pink, blue, or purple. Any color you can think of really."

He nods his head, as he files that away and asks, "What else can you do?" I sigh and say "It's too much to list, okay? I don't even know all of the things I can do." He doesn't look pleased with the answer, but he lets it slide.

We finally start walking and he asks, "How did you come here to this world?" My step falters as I think back to what happened. The look on my face isn't missed by the man as I softly say "Someone close to me tried to kill me... We fought and I somehow landed here."

For once, the man remains silent as we continue to walk. After a while, he says "We have something in common little witch." I look at him to see that he was no longer looking at me. He was looking straight ahead but he didn't seem to be seeing what was actually here.

His dark eyes looked colder as they look distant, but I keep my mouth shut. It's none of my business and as I've said before, this man is dangerous and not right in the head. I don't want to dig any deeper than I already have. I just want to help track down Lei Mei's father and then find a way to go back home.

Suddenly, he's in front of me again. I come to a stop as I look up at him with a frown. He looks down at me in silence before asking "Do you have a man? Back in your world or in this one?" I blink, taken back once again.

He really is all over the place. Should I lie? No, that might make things more complicated... but why is he asking this? Surly he isn't... I look at him suspiciously before saying "And if I do?" His eyes remain dark and cold as he says "I'll take that as a no."

I purse my lips and say "No, I don't." He nods and steps to the side, allowing me to walk again. I glance at him with a weird look, but I don't say anything. I really regret going out to eat. As we walk in silence, he breaks it again as he says, "I don't have a woman."

I silently scoff 'I didn't ask buddy' but I find myself saying "Oh, so you're into men." I'm so used to teasing and picking that it came out faster than I could stop it. I don't know who was more shocked, him or me. I felt like slapping myself several times, but I keep a straight face as I continue walking.

'Why would you say that!?!? WHYY!?? Why provoke the psycho!? I blink and he's before me again. I stumble to a stop and look up at him, trying to hide my nervous look. He looks down and says "No, I often wondered if maybe I was because I never found women attractive, but I don't like men either. But then I saw you. Now I know I like women... or at least you."

This time my mouth falls open. Was he... did he really just...

I snap my mouth shut and nervously laugh as I say "Ah, you joke as I do. You almost had me there." I strain to keep the smile in place as I nervously look around for an exit or some way to disappear. He doesn't hesitate as he says "No, I'm being serious. Huan told me that if you want to touch or hold a woman, that means you like her."

Haun!? Who the hell is that idiot to give this idiot that kind of advice!? Wait, that's not important right now... He wants to touch me? I look up at him and take a step back as I ask, "You want to touch me?"

His dark eyes watch my every move as he says "I want to do more than that, but I don't want to scare you more than I already have. You remind me of a cat." Just when I think I couldn't be any more shocked... He always has to prove me wrong. I can, in fact, change into a cat with my magic.

I lift my hand to my head and rub my forehead as I say "You... You shouldn't go around telling people that or being so... honest. You... No, Huan doesn't know what he's talking about, okay?" He frowns at my words and says "No, I think he's right and I'm honest because I feel like there's no point in lying."

I open my mouth several times before closing it and sighing. I feel like I keep getting caught up in his pace. I reach deep and take a deep breath before looking back at him and saying "Well, thank you for liking me but, I... I don't like you. Not in that way."

He doesn't seem phased as he says, "Then you can come to like me." I want to pull my hair out! I sigh and say "Look, I don't know you. Hell, I don't even know your name. I don't like you like that, and I won't be sticking around long enough to "come" to like you either. I'm going back home as soon as possible. I think we're done here. Have a good night."

I refuse to look at his face as I step around him and walk away. I'm surprised he doesn't follow this time but also relieved.