InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Real Folk Blues ❯ Leaving but not for good ( Chapter 11 )

Disclaimer: I don't own anything never will folks! IY and YYH are owned by Funimation and Viz.

 

Title: The Real Folk Blues

Author: Adorkablebanana

 

 

Chapter 11: Leaving but not for good

 

P. O. V. D: Kagome

 

"A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you're in deep water."
- Sidney Goff

 

 

 

Logically, it would've seem quite horrific bringing in something that looked a lot similar to those large pods featured in sci-fi movies. The pods that aliens produce from.

 

Kurama was considerably lucky no one was around in his parent's house. Otherwise, it would've been one long fiasco dragging this baggage one armed all the way to Yuusuke's instead.

 

It's been ages since he stepped into Yuusuke's place. Supposedly he moved from the apartment, but there wasn't any talk about it. Kurama assumed there was problems in his household and kept it on a minimum. Prying into personal matters isn't a trait Kurama wanted to pick up.

 

He had immense difficulty bringing the thing in. To save himself the time and energy, he just went straight to the basement and left it there for the time being. He accommodated it in a dark corner; sunlight would disturb it and hatch it before the time came.

 

With strain, Kurama left upstairs to the bathroom. He didn't know how he managed to reach the top of the stairs. He went into his bedroom's bathroom. The necessary items where there and he didn't want to stain his mother's clean lemon tile with his blood. *Eventually I plan to develop a faster immunity to injuries.*

 

*The human body limits you for the moment. In a few more years, perhaps three tops if I stand correct, more of my former self will meld in with this human shell. We, I, will be some form of half-man, half-demon hybrid until the time of taking over this entire body comes to a completion.*

 

Kurama said nothing to that. He knew it was true and bound to happen. *These are theories pertaining to us as a whole?*

 

*Very close to theories. Since the time of early adolescence our abilities started leaking through and growing, into the stages of our `mid teens' we continued to process our powers. The wakening of I enhanced the development. As of late, I feel a greater connection to this world than I did before. It shouldn't be long till I come around to my former glory.*

 

*Confidentially, I prefer staying in this world as a simple man.* Kurama confessed, taking a deep breath before going through the grueling process of extracting the weapon lodged into his shoulder. He pulled, his eyes snapping shut, he held a clean towel to it to hold the blooding steady. The bloody blunt spike dropped in the sink with a hard clang, the running water washing the thick blood coating it, draining away in a swirl down in a stream of pink water.

 

The towel bled quickly.

 

Stitching this is going to be one pain in the ass.

 

*Put some of the—*

 

*I know what herb to place on to disinfect,* Kurama answered through thick strain.

 

*Take it like a man. There will be harsher times to come,* the Youko commented with a stern eye.

 

*I await them.*

 

*As do I.*

 

 

~…~

 

*When is it a more appropriate time to call in the others for this little number?* the Youko observed the pod from the comfort of the basement couch, Kurama stared at his copy of the case file, memorizing a few minor details here and there.

 

*From what it's reported here, we caught one of the interesting ones.* Kurama leafed through the profile descriptions, a black and white print of the demoness' recent photo showed her gruesome side.

 

*I wonder how competent this amateur really is if the Reikai has hard evidence and records on her that can easily have her in buckets of her own blood should a warrant be out.*

 

*Demon bounty hunters should've captured her a long time ago if she was this easy to catch. Save for this careless mistake*—Kurama indicated to said wound—*rendering her helpless was no work of labor. It's almost insulting how simple it all was. The Reikai had such difficulty tracking her down and to have made such a commotion over a feeble, second-rate demon puts my faith in them to less—*

 

*Than what it is imaginable.*

 

*Exactly.*

 

*Yet, these records didn't fall out of the sky. She has to have some punch to her. Her overbearing cockiness isn't only rooted to her beauty, she must have some display of power that proves these reports right. She's part of the Lotus tribe.* The kitsune showed sincere interest.

 

*They don't hire hacks.*

 

A thought occurred to the kitsune. Shuuichi most likely thought of it already. The kitsune pointed it out anyway. *The imbecile overestimated us because we're of a human mix, her ego clouded her judgment and under analyzed that situation.*

 

*That's her downfall.*

 

*Wench lost that pretty eye of hers in the process,* the kitsune tried to feign pity.

 

There's one thing Kurama has and the Youko doesn't is true value for women. To the Youko, women aren't much use. For sex (a variety of sexual uses), cooking, cleaning, bearing child and tending to the man's every need is their basic use. Shiori isn't in those lines, because she mothered him and displayed her undying loyalty and loyalty served her a spot higher than the average woman. Loyal women deserve a reward and that is the protection of their males. Other than that, they aren't of much use. They are just proof men are better made than they are.

 

Kurama, on the other hand, saw women as people. They have thoughts and feeling too, just of a different flavor. The handful of crazies he dealt with could convince a person they are the worst of the worse, but he knew better. Men have their sleezeball moments more than women; that evens out the score.

 

Though, on this, Kurama's feelings were mutual. *Her fault.*

 

Name: Unknown

Alias: Black Mamba

Sex: Female

Age: 200

Height: 5 8”

Species: Demon

Type: Elemental; shadow

 

 

“Hmm…” Kurama raised a brow. *Being a shadow demon, I would've thought she'd use that to her advantage.*

 

*When will you learn, most females aren't too bright. Taking a few males down inflates their ego to a point they overlook certain details and miss a few steps that can be of use to them,* the kitsune reproached his half on a topic he constantly went over with him. Hiei agreed and he can assumed Kurabara and Yuusuke would nod their head in union to.

 

Kurama rolled his eyes. *I know, I know. *

 

*I have my doubts you do.*

 

Kurama decided to leave it at that. The Youko isn't as modern as he is.

 

Early in the morning, Kurama examined the blade of his Tanto with absorbed intrigue. No nick or spot marked the length of the steel. Unceremoniously he rose to his feet and directed the Tanto over the pod. He slashed a fine, deep line along the thick, hardened texture. It cracked open like thin wood. The sword's blade glistened with pale, clear goo. The goo that filled the pod dribbled and spilled out.

 

The floor was sticky and wet.

 

Out of the torn crack the naked body of the demoness slid out like a fleshy, lifeless lump. The liquid that filled the pod disintegrated her clothing. She was perfection bare. Lying there nude and unconscious she was vulnerable to what the world wanted to do to her.

 

She was just lucky Kurama wasn't the type to do a thing to a woman under these conditions. It wasn't in his nature to handle precious goods without permission. Vines surrounded her body, holding it up against the wall with her arms over her head and her feet bound together. Her head lopped to the side.

 

*There's no denying she's a vision of beauty.*

 

*Only she's dim.*

 

*Can't expect much from a woman that has her looks as her only asset.*

 

The wound inflicted on her eye is nearly gone. The liquid of the plant that held her captive healed the damage, repairing it. It wasn't something she really deserved. *Let's get started here.* Using the tip of the sword, Kurama poked the woman gently at the side of her face, willing her to wake up. “Awake woman, awake.”

 

Feeling something sharp tap her gently over and over on her cheek, she stirs, fluttering long lashes, her eyes opening and taking in the blurry scenery. Her pupils dilate narrowing in on the young man. Her lips twist into a snarl, fang flashing.

 

“Good morning. I take it that you don't appreciate your accommodations at the moment, but I suggest you settle in because it's going to be quite a long interrogation,” Kurama informed her politely, trying to show a reasonable amount of courtesy her way hoping to gain an ounce of her cooperation the easy way.

 

“Your frank about where you're going, aren't you? I think you're just some hypocritical Reikai dog that uses this as an excuse to cover for your twisted sexual fantasies. Are you turned on seeing my naked body tied up like this? Are you going to take me by force?” she sounded so sure that Kurama would force himself on her in her condition. She hissed angrily.

 

“Getting too ahead of yourself there. I assure you I wouldn't stoop to that level of vulgarities. We could've avoided being in this position if you didn't rush into things head-on.” He said it with a steady, self-assured tone to the demoness it vaguely bordered condescending. His unreadable, blank eyes stared straight into her eyes, never wandering at her body.

 

Concerning matters of vanity, it mildly hurt her pride he didn't openly appraise her figure. No man in there right mind would refuse looking at her. She wondered about his sexual preferences, but a straight man wouldn't place her in such a humiliating position in the first place. The young, red head was a lovely sight himself. “Tell me a little about yourself, Black Mamba, that's what the Lotus Tribe codenamed you, what is your purpose here in this realm?”

 

She sneered and looked the other way. It was coming to that, she thought bitterly.

 

“I asked you a question that I'm anticipating an answer to. I honestly prefer going through this process without getting my hands dirty, you understand where I'm getting at?”

 

“Fuck you, you sonofabitch! Fuck you, fuck you!” she spat back, fighting in her restraints. “You have no fucking idea who you're messing with here! You're walking into your grave!”

 

“Empty threats do nothing to alter the situation you're in, Black Mamba. One way or another I will get something out of you, whether it's through the easy way or the hard way,” Kurama indicted, with a flick of his wrist he sliced a large section of her hip down to her mid-thigh. Blood trailed in thick gushes.

 

She willed herself to keep from crying out. Her amethyst eyes glittered with different varieties of rage, humiliation and hints of fear. She held her chin up high and prepared to take an onslaught of pain inflicted by the hands of this stone-faced, practical man.

 

She swore nothing he could do would break her.

 

 

~…~

 

 

“Hypothetically speaking here, but are you going to do something to me if, say, I refuse to talk?” I said, testing other options. You know, just incase.

 

Shizuru gave me a peculiar look. A look that isn't common on her face. She said, “Well, well. Damn, you really must be hiding something if it's that bad, honey.”

 

I turned the other way. “Maybe, I'm just saying hypothetically.”

 

“I don't know really. I don't think I'll do anything. The circus business wouldn't want to negotiate a reasonable profit with me if you're that strange.”

 

“That's cold.”

 

“You asked; I gave you an answer.”

 

“Maybe I shouldn't force it next time.”

 

“Maybe, maybe. Though, I'd still like an answer, toots. My guesses only go so far.” She leaned forward and cupped my face. I paled. She smiled, and it was a pretty smile that could melt people into a puddle of goo. “Trust me. This is between us.”

 

It's pathetic and sad I could fall for such fabricated words. I'm falling; I'm falling. I fell. “Shizuru…thanks. That means a lot to me,” I said. The sincerity she displayed really touched a soft spot in me. Foolishly, I smiled. Fueled by her encouragement to speak. I knew it was going to be my undoing.

 

“Okay, let's see.” She looked pensive for a moment. “Okay, to make it easier let me ask you what are you exactly? You feel human, but weird, misplaced, I don't know how to categorize you.”

 

Okay, now my weirdness rate has upped to a new level. Acknowledging that kind of made me sad. I scratched the back of my head. “Wait a minute here, how can you just label me right off the bat?” What did she mean by `categorize you'?

 

“E.S.P runs in the family or haven't you noticed my brother's aura texture?” Shizuru said, admitting her to her flesh and blood's sixth sense abilities and nothing of a drop of regret in revealing her family's bizarre trait. Can she be serious? She acts like if I asked her the time or how's the weather? I'm still not steady about her being clairvoyant, after all.

 

 

Talk about expressing yourself out in the open. To think I just squared in on the quad of weirdo's. First, yours truly of course, and then Yuusuke—wait, we can't forget Hiei and Yukina.

 

Wait, no. Those two youkai are bad examples. They're demons. Weird to us is normal for them. Yep, scratch them off.

 

So Yuusuke, me and now Kazuma Kurabara and Shizuru Kurabara. Maybe I should start a small club called the Abnormals. To think of the hits I'll get recruiting `strange' people such as us. It's funny that I'm a sort of magnet to the strange society. Should I decide to open one it would grow to be successful, perhaps by popular demand we'll hire an alien mascot.

 

—Oh yeah, I'm drifting in the current, out to sea again. I need to stop zoning off. This is the result you get when a kid stops taking vitamins during puberty.

 

Sighing again, I do that a lot, I said, “Yes, I recognized it a few times. I didn't really look into it since, well, with all the craziness that happened, it sort of escaped me. I didn't feel a threat so I didn't take any course of action.”

 

“Why not be cautious anyway?” she asked, curiously.

 

“I guess I trust people a little too easily. It's just; you two did help me. How can I bite your hand after taking me in?” I replied honestly.

 

I am not the traitorous type. I have that bad defect to help and be kind to people, even my enemies. Kikyou, the perfect example. Heck, half of my friends originated from being my enemies. Strange, yes, however it's the reality of my life.

 

I hope she doesn't read this off my head, but it's the only way. I only told Yuusuke everything because he told me everything. We formed a sort of bond that goes beyond anything in this realm. And I'm keeping it to a limit to him.

 

I decided. Half-truths. That's the way to go. “Shizuru, I'll tell you, but try to believe me. I speak only honesty. I don't have reasons to lie to you.” I'm going to burn in Hell for this.

 

She regarded me carefully. “Sounds dramatic.”

 

“Kind of is.”

 

“Oooh, then this is going to be good.” Inhaling her final drag, she preceded to grind the cigarette flat on the bottom of the tin ashtray. She directed her full attention to me; her hazel eyes glittering with intrigue to the news spill. Oh boy. She's really interested. What? Is my life story a freshly printed article in a gossip column? Fabulous.

 

“For starters, I'm not a demon, I'm kind of surprised that you know what demons are.”

 

“More or less,” she gave.

 

“Well, yes, I am a human like you, with some spiritual awareness.”

 

“Figured it was something along the lines of those.”

 

“I'm not a psychic though. I was practicing to be an apprentice priestess at my grandfather's shrine, since I have the ability to do it, I'm still in training,” I said evenly, trying to keep a steady tone and a clear mind to keep her from catching me.

 

“Priestess, eh?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You planning to be the head priestess of your granddad's temple?”

 

“Sort of. I still haven't decided.”

 

“Understandable. So, when exactly has your powers started coming about?”

 

I felt like an interrogated victim here. I answered anyway. “About when I was fifteen.”

 

“How?”

 

“Something attacked me, a centipede demon, and I kind of, well, did something to kill it.” I was careful when I said it. I think she noticed.

 

“Yeah? Where would you come across such a thing?”

 

“I was camping and I don't know, it just popped out of the ground and it chased me. Out of nowhere I managed to defend myself, before I knew it the thing was toasted on the ground.”

 

She shrugged. I guess it happens.

 

If I could let out a breath right now, I would.

 

Breaking the awkward silence, I asked, “Are you going to mention this to Kazuma?”

 

“No. But I can't guarantee he won't know. He's gotten pretty sharp over the years. He's been developing his ESP since he was a little kid, but if he does, he won't do anything to give you any problems. It's not like it's your fault you're attuned with your inner abilities and you seem harmless. You check out in my book.”

 

I felt immensely relieved when she said that. I don't want anyone acting suspicious of me.

 

Not possessing the opportunity to dip into it more, heavy footsteps creaked and Kazuma made his appearance, carrying his scrambling cat in his arms.

 

“Hey girls. What's up? Is everything cool?” We both nodded in a union. Kazuma took a moment to look me over. It wasn't perverted or anything that could make me uncomfortable. He did it with a concerned sincerity. “How are you feeling, Kagome?”

 

I smiled. “I'm feeling better. Just, a bit sore here and there, but nothing that can keep me down.”

 

“That's good. I'm glad.” Eikichi-chan wriggled out of his arms and pounced onto my lap. The brown cat nuzzled its furry head against my hands. I automatically fell victim to its charms. I petted the cat's soft back. Eikichi-chan purred in recognition, grateful for my touch. Silly cat.

 

“She really likes you.”

 

“I seem to have that affect on felines. That's me, cat lover Kagome. Anyway, did your day go smoothly, Kazuma?” Somewhere cuddling Eikichi-chan I randomly found myself missing Buuyo, my fleshy, eats-anything-that-moves cat.

 

From his sports wear I assumed he went to play sports or something along those lines. “Ah, nah, mah. You know,” he muttered briefly, massaging the back of his neck, doing what I like to call `a Yuusuke'. My block headed stepbrother mutters nonsensical words too when he doesn't want to talk about it or go into detail.

 

“Very interesting,” I chuckled, rolling my eyes.

 

Shizuru snorted, calling him stupid.

 

He shot her a sideways glance, ignoring her rude comment. “My day wasn't anything worth talking about. Doing guy stuff.” He kneeled before me, looking serious again. “Are you sure you're feeling better?”

 

I tried not to blush. A boy. Too. Close. Boys close up like this made me a little unease. I swallowed that timid-ness. “Positive.”

 

Shizuru smacked him on the head. “She said she's okay, stop hopping allover her, you horny little bastard!”

 

“OW! WHAT THE HELL!” he shouted at her, ducking when she swung her fist. “Ahh!” he screamed and ran away as his sister chased him around the house. Yeah, that was my cue to scram. I left to the bathroom, used the facilities and after I was done I turned on the faucet over the sink and washed my hands. I let our little conversation, Shizuru and mine, sink in and turn over in my head. I really needed to be careful in doing anything out of the ordinary.

 

The only problem is, a lot of the time I do it unintentionally.

 

I swallowed nervously at the challenge.

 

As I looked straight into the mirror, for a passing moment I could've sworn I was staring into Kikyou's eyes instead of mine.

 

I wanted to scream.

 

 

~…~

 

 

 

Shizuru stopped halfway into ripping a new hole into Kurabara; she stared at the doorway where Kagome most likely vacated the living room from. Kurabara took the opportunity to interrogate his sister, pinning his older sibling a serious look. Assuming she knew what flowed through his mind clearly, gathering her resolve and predicting another heated discussion, she said, “So how long were you hearing?”

 

“Plenty to know the straight facts.”

 

“Figures. You were sitting against the wall in the hallway for the past hour. Were you spying on us?”

 

“No, I happen to drop in at the exact time, I didn't want to ruin it. Kagome does trust us a certain amount. I only did it to respect the trust,” said Kurabara, conceding to the served truth.

 

It wasn't his fault; it was all incidental. He did happen to stroll by at the moment. Only mere seconds to entering the room, Kagome broke down her story to his sister. Out of concern he chose to not interrupt the girl-talk. For quite some time he noticed the girl's sadness and depression. It doesn't take a certified genius to figure something is wrong, so he instead waited in the hallway, listening to the whole conversation.

 

“Sis, I didn't like that you forced her into a corner and pulling it out of her. That wasn't cool of you,” Kurabara said in an angry tone. He didn't like that his sister stripped the whole thing out from her like that when she went through such a traumatic situation. “Why did you do that? Why couldn't you—”?

 

“Wait till she told me? Told us? C'mon, little brother, do you think she would tell us anything?” Shizuru said frankly. She resumed to picking up after the mess she made, the few scattered couch pillows on the floor and Yazi magazines.

 

“It wasn't your place to go into in the first place,” Kuwabara said crossly. Yet, he did get out of this little talk an idea what Kagome was and how to approach it, in conclusion his guess on the girl's peculiar power stand confirmed. Though, because she was a miko he had to keep on eye on her concerning Kurama and Hiei, them being demons and all, and maybe Yuusuke, too. “So now what?”

 

“Nothing. We're going to leave it alone. I found out what I wanted to know.”

 

Shizuru set the stack of magazines down in the magazine rack. She organized the table that was slightly askew. She casually made her way past him, flicking her brother's nose hard in the process. He yelped, gripping his nose where she cruelly inflicted pain on. “HEY! That hurt!”

 

Tying her loose, bothersome hair in a low ponytail, she headed out the living room. “That's for zeroing in on a woman's conversation. It's rude. I thought I taught you better.” She called over from her shoulder, “Come on.”, smirking mischievously. The rush and thrill of picking on her little brother never got old.

 

“Shit head,” he muttered in a low voice so she wouldn't hear. Kurabara stroked his poked nose, sneering darkly behind her back.

 

“I love you, too, baby brother.”

 

“Stop calling me `baby brother', it's embarrassing!”

 

“Then my job is done.” Smirking, with her chin held up high in satisfaction. Kuwabara pursued after her, flinging complaints about her being a frigid bitch.

 

~…~

 

 

I ate in awkward silence and then excused myself to bed.

 

I thought about what transpired a little earlier today and just blamed it on my lack of good sleep. Sometimes I just get too scared to go to bed and fall to sleep. I think I need to grow a backbone. I been through so much in the past few years, I shouldn't feel like such a chicken over this.

 

Except, during that period in my life, I had them to stand by me.

 

Now, I don't.

 

I watched from the window Kuwabara workout outside. He's passionate about it and reminds me of how Yuusuke concentrates and stretches out in the house while I'm watching T.V. Like Yuusuke, Kuwabara is dedicated. Something tells me if these two ever met they'd probably hit it off as really good friends.

 

Depending how the situation goes, I'll introduce them to each other.

 

For now, I remain reserved. I miss home, but here isn't bad either.

 

I think I'm just depressed. That's why everything seems black and white to me.

 

~…~

 

 

 

Can I complain? No, really can I?

 

Well, apparently not. The few days I stayed under the hospitability of the Kurabara's had been an endearing experience. They are such kind, fun, a little rough around the edges with the violence, understanding people. I have to say; it's been awhile since I ran into that type of company. I often wonder if it's real because at times it seems a little too good to be true.

 

I never really was the type of girl to feel intimidated by guys. They don't scare me, unless they're psychopaths like a couple of numbers I could name from the Feudal era. Boys, to me, are like girls, just different and less intelligent.

 

I have to say; Kazuma's a pretty cool guy. He and I can relate to one another in certain things. Sometimes he gets shy on me, but then he randomly changes to more of what I assume is `himself' and talks to me normally.

 

From our conversations I know Kazuma is still in High school, just like me, likes animals a lot, cats overall, likes to practice marital arts and video games. He doesn't really talk about his friends, or anything too personal with me. Nor do I. I try to avoid the topic and he doesn't pursue it, which is dandy for me.

 

I met three of his friends that visited the house once. They were nice boys, but they kept staring at me like they never saw a girl before and kept asking me if I was Kazuma's girlfriend. Kazuma smacked them on the head several times, obviously embarrassed. He feed them the story I was their friend from the old neighborhood and that I was staying over until my new house was renovated.

 

They believed it, but one of them whispered into his ear something that had Kazuma red as a chili pepper and chase them out of the room. Shizuru's said they're Kazuma's buddies since childhood and they always stuck together. I thought that was nice. It was like how Eri, Yuka and Ayumi were with me and like in Kazuma's case I want to kill those girls sometimes for the things they put me through.

 

Kazuma isn't in the house a lot. He tries to, but his part time job limits him. He was reluctant to say what he worked in, Shizuru assured me it's nothing of importance to talk about.

 

The day that I went home, Kazuma had this glum outlook that made me sad. He had gotten use to me being around. Kazuma went to feed Eikichi-chan her kitty mix. Shizuru helped me gather the few things I brought, which were only a ragged yellow dress and a purse. She bought me a present that I had no words to say to, except endless thank you's. I couldn't prevent the forlorn mood sweeping past me.

 

Leaving this new place, saying goodbye to my new friends who've I've grown fond of left me sad. I know they can always visit me and I them, it's not like we live in completely different cities; we can get acquainted more than often.

 

Yet the way things occurred, our meeting one another and the small time we spent together is going to be missed. That is the small dread spiraling inward.

 

“I'm gonna miss having another chick to hang around with.”

 

“I'm going to miss having you there to talk to, but we can call each other and hang out,” I said.

 

“Yeah, you're right.”

 

“Yep.”

 

With a heavy heart, I gave my farewells to Shizuru and the cute, adorable hairball Eikichi-chan. Kazuma escorted me out the door, making it his obligation and honor as a man to walk me home, to protect me from evil, as he so put it.

 

It would suck to go through the same crap, so I didn't mind his company. I gladly welcomed his offer. The memory of the alley punks was still too fresh. There's wasn't many people wandering about, Kazuma and I walked side by side in the darkness called night, only the streetlights lighting the path for us. I wondered how mom and everyone else were doing? I missed them a lot despite it all. The walk was long. We took a bus to get there at a reasonable time.

 

Reaching the foot of the block, I stopped. He stared out at the area. The neighborhood a sort of peaceful place compared to his area. “This place is spiffy.”

 

“I guess so.”

 

“You sure you don't want me to walk you all the way?” he asked.

 

“No, I'm sure. Thank you, anyway. I don't want questioning from my mother and the household habitants.”

 

“Call me at the house when you get there then. I want to make sure you got home okay.”

 

I laughed. He sounded like a big brother. “Don't worry, will do. Thanks for everything, Kazuma, I appreciate what you and Shizuru done for me. You didn't know me and didn't have to, but you did and that's really decent of you.”

 

“Nah, it's all good. I would've done it for someone else.”

 

I bid Kazuma goodbye.

 

He hurried off to catch the bus.

 

I stood there, watching him go, wondering if I will see him around like he said we would.

 

I want to keep him as a friend.