Kami Cursed (Dragon and Phoenix)

by Julianne Price

  I glared after him. “You’re an idiot.”

  Tires scrunched as a car pulled into the driveway. Dawn breezed through the living room. She’d changed her cloths and was fastening an earring. She looked down at her watch- a pink thing with lots of rhinestones. “That’ll be George. I need to get going.”

  She patted me on the shoulder in passing. “You’re new hair is really very cute.” I watched her smooth her own hair before she grabbed her purse and hurried out the door.

  Ryuu poked his head out of the kitchen. “Did Dawn go out?”

  I went to join him. “Yeah. With some George guy?”

  Ryuu unloaded his armful of random food items onto the counter. “Oh, yeah. He’s her boyfriend.”

  I hurried to help him unload his haul, wondering just what the heck he was planning on doing with it all. I couldn’t believe how much he was eating lately- and I had no idea where he put it all. He was still just as scrawny as ever.

  “Dawn has a boyfriend now?”

  Ryuu nodded and started assembling things. “Sure, he’s like the third or fourth one- though he’s been around longer than the other ones.” He rolled his eyes. “You’re lucky you weren’t around for them.”

  He shrugged. “But George isn’t bad. We all have dinner together once a week or so. She probably thinks he’s a good influence on me or something.” He gestured at the far cabinet. “Get out the strainer and open that pineapple, will you?”

  I did as instructed. “You’re okay with that? I mean, Dawn dating?”

  Ryuu shrugged. “Sure. I know she seems old, but Dawn’s only in her twenties. It would be pretty selfish of me to pout about it.”

  I thought of my dad and I felt guilty. “Sure.”

  I did as instructed, then set the pineapple aside and watched with curiosity as Ryuu opened a package of yeast and sprinkled it over a bowl of warm water. “So, what’s he like, this George guy?”

  He tossed the empty package aside and handed me a cutting board and knife. I assumed he wanted me to chop veggies, so I picked up a pepper at random. “He’s an older guy. He runs some company that makes computers or something.” His dark eyes flicked my way. “Smaller pieces.”

  I butchered veggies then watched in awe as Ryuu made pizza crust from scratch. “You’re amazing,” I said absently as he wrangled the soft dough onto a pizza stone.

  He looked up and grinned. “Thanks, I’m glad you finally noticed.” A lock of shiny hair fell forward across his forehead and he brushed it away, leaving behind a streak of flour.

  I dipped my fingers in the flour left on the counter and ruffled them through his hair, making him look like he was graying. My laughter faded when I realized that he was standing there patiently, just smiling, his eyes glowing golden brown. My breath caught in my chest and I went to wash the cutting board, suddenly confused for no good reason.

  Ryuu spoke suddenly. “So, you’re really going to go on a date with that jock?”

  I almost dropped heavy wooden cutting board. Embarrassed by my fumbling, I raised my chin and refused to meet his eyes. “Sure. Why not?”

  He snorted. “Do you like him? A guy like that?”

  I narrowed my eyes at Ryuu. “Look, I’ve never had a boyfriend before. I’ve never even been on a date. All of the other girls at school are always talking about that stuff, and I… well, I just want to be normal okay?”

  He was quiet for a minute, and I thought he’d given up on the discussion. But then he started in again. “That’s a stupid reason. I don’t like him.”

  I sighed. “So?”

  He slid the pizza into the hot oven. “You know, his crowd, they’re the kind of people that tormented me when I was little. They make your life miserable too. They’re all a bunch of shallow idiots.”

  I glared. “Wyatt’s not like that. He’s really nice to me. And besides,” I added, not looking at him. “He’s cute.”

  Ryuu made a gagging sound and I left the room. Why couldn’t he just be happy that I had a life for once… that I was finally doing something that a girl my age should be doing? Ryuu always supported me. Now he was suddenly being a jerk.

  He joined me a few minutes later and we worked on homework in silence. We ate in silence. Then I went home. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, depressed.

  Ryuu’s dark eyes were flat. “Sure.”

  “Thanks for dinner. It was good.”

  He shrugged. “Sure.”

  I left feeling guilty for some reason, but not knowing why.

  Chapter 8

  Ryuu was still holding a grudge. I was sprawled on the thick beige carpet, reading about the atrocities of the civil war and eating cookies when he came in the door and tossed a paper grocery bag at me. It bounced off my head and landed on the floor.

  Dad barely glanced up from his computer. “Hi ya, Ryuu.” I was glad that he was writing again, but really, you should sound a little more concerned when someone throws something at your daughter’s head.

  I sat up and took the crumpled bag. There was something hard in there, at the bottom. I rubbed my head where it had hit me. “Nice to see you too,” I mumbled sullenly.

  Ryuu narrowed his dark eyes at me. Then his features smoothed out and he plopped down on the couch. I reached in the bag and pulled out a blouse and some shiny pink shoes. “What the heck is this?”

  My so-called friend leaned his head back on the couch and pretended to study the ceiling. “Girly crap. Dawn sent it. For your date.”

  I reached out and smacked his leg, darting a glance at Dad. But he was still engrossed in his work. “Shut it,” I hissed.

  Ryuu smirked at me, then stood and stretched. “Well, see you guys later.”

  Dad looked up from his computer, just now registering Ryuu’s sullen mood. I had to hand it to him, the kid did broody really well- all dark and withdrawn. No wonder all the little cheerleaders loved him. I stuck out my tongue when he turned his back on me.

  “Aren’t you staying for supper, Ryuu?” Dad seemed surprised. And rightfully so- Ryuu and I barely ever argued. Now that I thought about it, this was our first real fight in… well, ever.

  “Nah, Kit will be leaving on her date soon. So I’d better go home.” He crossed his arms and waited. The jerk.

  Dad sat up straight and pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. “Date?” He turned his owl eyes on me. “You’re going on a date?”

  I rolled my eyes and stuffed the blouse back in the bag. “No. I’m just… going to see a movie with a friend from school.”

  Dad narrowed his eyes at me, darting a quick glance at Ryuu. “Well that’s nice honey,” he said gently. Leave it to my dad to be the only father on the planet who was actually glad that his teenage daughter was going out with a boy.

  I stood and headed toward my room. “Buh-bye Ryuu,” I said sweetly, giving him an exaggerated wave. His plan hadn’t worked.

  He frowned and I could see the moody little boy he’d once been glaring out at me from his dark eyes. He clenched his teeth and I turned back toward my room to avoid his black look. On second thought, he was a lot scarier now than he’d ever been back then.

  A few minutes later, I heard the front door open and close as Ryuu left. Dad came to peek into my room while I stood staring blankly at my closet. What did girls wear on dates anyway? And what did you wear if you didn’t consider it a date?

  He cleared his throat and came to sit on my bed, looking awkward. “Kit…Katherine,” he said finally. “I’m really glad that you’re getting out and doing things that other girls your age are doing.”

  I held up a hand, not looking at him. “Wait! This isn’t a sex talk is it?”

  “Oh!” He made a choking noise and started coughing. “No…I didn’t think. Well… just...no.” When he subsided, he regarded me with watery eyes.

  “I just wondered,” he looked at me earnestly. “Well, what about Ryuu?”

  I pulled out a pair of jeans and stood looking at my shoes. I was not wearing those shiny pin
k sandals that Dawn had sent over. Maybe the shirt though. I didn’t think I should show up in a baggy T-shirt, no matter what my feelings on the date/no date status of this outing. “What about him?” I said distracted.

  Dad sighed. “Well, I mean, I kind of thought that he was your boyfriend.”

  I looked up at him. “Ryuu?”

  Dad nodded. “Of course. He’s always been with you since he moved here. You guys do everything together. When you were…sick… he sat by your bed every day and watched you sleep. You should have seen that little guy. He haggled the nurses and doctors- drove them crazy.” He looked down at his hands. “He even took care of your Dad when he fell apart- and he was only a kid.” His blue eyes met mine. “That kid would move the earth for you, Kit.”

  I shook my head. After all that, I felt really, really guilty about fighting with Ryuu. I hadn’t taken the time to think about just how wonderful my friend really was. I just took him for granted. But still. “Dad, I love Ryuu. He’s my best friend. But he’s way too young for me to think about him that way.”

  Dad laughed. “He’s not that much younger than you are.”

  I crossed my arms and tapped my foot. “He’s three years younger than me. He’s still in junior high!”

  Dad stood and looked down at me with an odd expression on his face. “Your mom was eight years younger than me. It didn’t faze us.”

  I glared. “And look at how that worked out.”

  He winced and I instantly felt bad. I wondered, quite suddenly, if mom had a new husband now. Maybe one a lot younger than my dad. I was such a ball of mean, hateful things.

  His shoulders slumped. “Well, I suppose when you’re a teenager, three years makes a lot of difference.”

  “A lot,” I said firmly.

  He sighed. “At least cut the kid some slack, okay? I’m sure Ryuu’s not happy right now. That kid’s lived for you the past few years. Going up to the center every day. Bringing you gifts and sitting by your bed holding your hand.” He gave me puppy dog eyes.

  I waved him away and turned back to the clothing situation. “I got it, okay?!”

  He backed away with his hands raised in self-defense. “Okay, okay.”

  I tossed a couple of shirts onto the bed and glared at them. I glanced up when I realized Dad was still hovering in the doorway. “Have fun tonight sweetie,” he said fondly. “And come right home after the movie.”

  I sighed. “Sure Dad.” In a town as small as Pine Rapids, there wasn’t much risk to me staying out late, but he did have some parental instincts.

  He closed the door behind him and I stood in the middle of my room staring at the floor for a very long time. I couldn’t forget the look on Ryuu’s face. Did he really feel that way about me? No way. He probably just hated the idea of my having a social life that didn’t involve him. Finally, I shook myself and launched into motion. I was seventeen years old. It was time to start acting like it.

  I decided on sneakers. Wyatt could just deal with me the way I was, or forget it. When he picked me up, we all did the awkward meet the date thing. Dad didn’t seem particularly happy but, much to my relief, he was nice. Then we headed to the theater a few blocks away.

  Wyatt picked the movie, something gushy that people take dates to. I sat through it without noticing much of what was happening on the screen in front of me. The couple behind us was making out- loudly. Wyatt’s arm somehow found its way across the back of my seat. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do, so I ignored it. It was the longest two hours of my life, pretending that I wasn’t pretending that I didn’t know what was going on.

  When we emerged into the lights again, Wyatt took my hand. We sat on a bench a little ways down from the theatre entrance. I was so jittery that I actually jumped when he slipped his arm around my waist.

  His green eyes crinkled at the corners as he silently laughed at me. “Am I that scary?”

  I shook my head. “It’s just the dark, I think.” The sun had set and the old-fashioned streetlights were coming on one by one. The air had a bite to it that cut through my sweatshirt.

  Wyatt smiled. “I had fun,” he said lightly. He angled himself toward me, and I braced myself as he leaned in to kiss me.

  His lips were soft and warm on mine. The sensation wasn’t unpleasant. I didn’t know what to do with my hands, so I kept them in my lap. When I didn’t resist, he slipped a hand behind my head, taking advantage of my surprise to slip his tongue into my mouth. His hand at my waist started to migrate upward.

  I jerked back and pushed his hands away. “What the heck?”

  He looked honestly surprised. “What? Did I do something wrong?”

  I blushed and looked at my hands. “Um, well I just…”

  He slid closer to me on the bench, trying to put his arm around me. I frowned. “Is this the only reason you wanted to go out?”

  He laughed. “You really are like a little kid, aren’t you?”

  I glared at him. “Look, you’re a nice guy and all. But I’m just not ready for - I mean, a few months ago, as far as I remember, I was fourteen.” I twisted my hands in my lap. “I’ve never even kissed a guy before,” I blurted. I wanted to die. I wanted to crawl in a hole and die. Right now.

  He frowned at me. “I thought that’s what you wanted. Why did you come out with me if you don’t even like me?”

  I shrugged. “I like you just fine. But I don’t know if I like you.”

  He laughed, sitting back and crossing his arms. “Half the girls in the school have asked me out,” he pointed out. “Any of them would be happy to be in your place.”

  I stared at him, shocked at his arrogant attitude. “Maybe it’s because they don’t realize what a jerk you are!”

  He glared at me. “You’re acting like a kid.”

  I stood up and stared down at him, balling up my fists. “And you’re acting like a moron!”

  I turned and ran. Hot tears poured down my cheeks. Stupid jerk! And stupid me. What was I thinking, going out with him? More than anything, I was embarrassed. I was in way over my head.

  I ran down the street, ignoring the people passing by. I finally found a quiet spot in the park not far from my house. I sat down with my back against the play structure and put my head on my knees. Then I cried like a baby.

  I was still snuffling when a soft voice spoke. “Well,” he said with a sigh. “That went about like I thought it would.”

  I glared at Ryuu’s sneakers. “Shut up.” I wiped my eyes with the sleeve of my sweatshirt.

  He reached down a hand and pulled me up. “C’mon.”

  We walked back down the sidewalk in silence for a few minutes. Finally, I stopped hiccupping and attempted to speak. “I w…wish I’d n…never woken up from that stupid curse.” I’m a messy crier- I forget to breathe.

  Ryuu was still holding my hand, and he squeezed it, hard. “Don’t say that.”

  I sighed. “Sorry. But look at me- I’m a mess.” I stopped. His appearance had been pretty convienient. “Did… did you follow us?” I nearly choked on my embarrassment. “Did you see everything?”

  He kept his dark eyes focused ahead, not looking at me. “Yep.”

  I moaned, mortified. “I can’t do anything right. Why can’t I just be like all the other girls at school?”

  He turned and gifted me with a beautiful smile. “You are a million times better than those other girls.”

  I snorted. “Ha.”

  He pulled me along and I followed. “Where are we going?”

  Ryuu gave me a mischievous look. “I’m going to show you what you did wrong.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Breathe?”

  He snickered. “Look, there’s a late showing of that movie you wanted to see- the one with the mutant zombie werewolves. You buy my ticket, and I’ll buy a tub of popcorn and some milk duds.”

  He turned to face me. “We’ll watch wolf-men eat people while we eat popcorn ‘til we feel sick. I promise you’ll forget all about what’s-his-face.”
r />   I grinned at him. “Whoppers,” I corrected. “And put them in the popcorn while it’s still hot.”

  He nodded. “Sure thing.” He put his arm around my shoulders as we walked. It felt natural, not like an invading force. “And we won’t even call it a date this time,” he promised.

  I elbowed him in the ribs. “Just don’t even say that word again.” I pretended to gag. But I hadn’t missed the fact that he’d said this time. Maybe my dad was right and I was the only one who considered this a friendship. No. That wasn’t right. He was just being nice to me because I was so pathetic.

  Ryuu ruffled my hair, the light from the streetlamps making his dark eyes look golden. “You don’t have to be in a hurry, you know,” he said softly. “You can’t expect to just grow up overnight. It takes time.”

  I punched him lightly in the stomach. “This coming from someone who’s three years younger than me.”

  He shrugged. “I know how you feel. If I could be older, I would. In a heartbeat.”

  I was pretty sure I knew why he was saying that, and the knowledge made me uncomfortable again. I pulled away and headed toward the ticket booth. “No butter, okay?”

  He waved at me dismissively and went to stand in line for concessions. I watched him out of the corner of my eyes, trying to be objective. Ryuu was just Ryuu. He’d always been part of my life. I didn’t think of him as a boy, or anything really. I watched him flip his sleek black hair out of his almond shaped eyes, looking for my Ryuu. He wasn’t there anymore, I realized with a start.

  He had been a pretty little boy, but now his face was sharper, with high cheekbones and a wide mouth. He was still gawky and too skinny, but his shoulders had gotten wider, and he was almost as tall as me now. He shifted to the balls of his feet, impatient with the line. The movement drew the eyes of a group of girls his age who were waiting for someone at the entrance. I realized that I wasn’t the only one watching him. In fact, I thought maybe I was the only one who hadn’t been watching him all this time.

  His dark eyes met mine and he grinned and waved. I grimaced and waved back, then moved up in line, still shocked by my little epiphany. Ryuu was…beautiful. And there was absolutely no way I could admit it to anyone. He was just a kid. The three years between us seemed even bigger now- like a giant, yawning gulf.