Chapter 166Touches to Last

The streets were busy, as always, while we walked through the center of town. In a way it was nice to walk the ground now, instead of flying. While flight certainly had it's perks, it was also the least natural thing I could do.

Things felt best when I wasn't anyone special. Sandra didn't know, and though her continuous stream of words could annoy some people, to me it was a glorious moment of feeling normal. She didn't treat me differently, except for our strange friendship perhaps.

Nuru kept close to me as we wandered along stores and streets, she felt uncomfortable, looking around everywhere. But I knew there was no one around paying attention to us. The library must have been a long-shot for them. Not actually expecting her.

We were just... lucky... to have been there when they came.

I stopped, Nuru looked at me with surprise in her eyes.

"Are you alright?" I looked at her openly.

She smiled bravely. "I guess, it's a bit weird having the feeling that they're looking for me."

There was nothing I could say to make it better. Nothing I could think of, but there was of course something I could say to make her feel better. Even though I couldn't take away all problems all at once, she just wanted to be free. Even though she started out willing to serve me, she now was more like a younger sister. Yes, I guess that was the best thing I could say to her.

"I'll do anything I can to make it better. I see you as my sister, Nuru, and hold you dear to my heart."

She looked up at me, her face frozen between expressions.

Then she cried.

She grabbed me and cried, her tears rolling over her cheeks and on my shoulders. Slightly surprised it took me a moment to realize what had happened and wrap my arms back around her. I held her like she was my sister, like she was my blood, despite not knowing that feeling. She felt happy, confused and sad all at the same time.

Only soft two words escaped her tortured lips.

"Thank you."

I merely smiled and poked her nose with my finger. "Come on, let's go back to Hitori and Anka."

She nodded demurely, releasing me gingerly but grabbing my hand on the way down. I held hers as well and we continued on our way to Hitori.

It didn't take us that long anymore, Hitori's house was only a few minutes more away. For once I felt things were getting better as I got closer. It felt good to be near a calm place. And somehow it felt very gentle here. I didn't have a key though, so my fingers brushed the doorbell button lightly.

Someone came down the stairs, it wasn't Hitori.

I started to smile.

Anka opened the door, wondering who was here at this hour. Her eyes grow in enormous surprise as she saw me, grinning like an idiot. She literally jumped me, almost knocking me over, and pressed her lips on mine. I just froze, it was so unexpected.

She released me and took a step back, giggling girlish. "I'm sorry, I thought I'd dreamt earlier. And those clothes! You're so pretty!"

She suddenly blushed and looked at Nuru. "I'm sorry about last night, I never asked your name."

She smiled back. "I'm Nuru. And you almost fainted when you got in so I forgive you."

She nodded, blushing, and smiled. "Thanks. Come on up, Hitori is on the phone now. The bastard didn't say anything to me about you being back, Amy."

I just shrugged and winked. "Brothers."

Anka giggled. "Tell me about it."

Arm in arm, we went upstairs. My mind mostly on Anka's mis- or fortune that led her back to Hitori. I didn't even know if she'd told Hitori the whole story already or if Hitori wanted to wait. It was easy to wait though. Walking up the stairs wasn't very taxing and I knew that upstairs I'd be getting a lot of answers.

Still...

It was hard to be patient.