Page 88 of Son of Shadows

The beating of her heart was only matched by the pace of his own.

The air became hot and humid. Was it always so miserable here? He didn’t remember it being like this.

Or was it the adrenaline pumping in his veins?

The hairs on the back of Koichi’s neck stood up just as they usually did on the eve of battle. He felt a warrior’s calmness taking over. He swore to every god above that he’d pulverize whoever or whatever had harmed her so hard that not a single piece of them would remain.

“Haruki!” he shouted, abandoning the pretense of stealth. He no longer cared if he was discovered.

Let them come for him, and they’d be sorry.

When Koichi finally found her, Haruki was hanging over a rock, crying uncontrollably. She motioned him away.

“Don’t look. Please. Just leave.” Her pretty face was puffy, red, and streaked with tears.

Koichi almost smiled in relief. She was alive and all in one piece!

Yet he could feel her heart beating faster than ever.

“Haruki. You scared me. Are you hurt?”

She couldn’t stop crying long enough to answer him.

From the looks of things, Haruki didn’t seem to be in any physical pain.

So that could only mean she was in emotional anguish.

What should he do? He had no idea how to comfort her.

I’m not meant for this. Perhaps I should go . . .

But how could he? Haruki was heartbroken. Only an animal would leave her alone in this state.

So Koichi sat down next to her.

“I asked you to leave.” Haruki pushed at him, trying to make him go. “You’re going to get yourself into so much trouble for leaving the ship.”

“I don’t care. I’m here for you, Haruki.” He pulled Haruki into a warm and gentle embrace. To his surprise, she didn’t resist. “There, there. I have you now.”

She drew a ragged breath before looking up at him with teary eyes. “I’m unlovable. Completely unlovable. No one will ever love me. How could they?”

“Not true at all,” Koichi said. “There are plenty of people who love you.”

Haruki leaned back and stared him down. “Like who? Name one.”

Koichi struggled to answer. He put his hand on Haruki’s concealed heart. It had started to slow down the moment he held her close to him. “Lots of people. Like . . .”

Me.

But that was something he’d never say out loud. He was sure she’d laugh in his face.

So he just froze and didn’t finish his sentence.

Haruki chuckled and pulled away from him. “That’s what I thought.” She covered her face as more tears threatened to roll down her cheeks. “I don’t know what to do. I thought giving my heart away would help. That I would feel less lonely. But this emptiness in my chest is just too much to bear.”

What should he say?

He was the kind of person to make problems, not solve them. And she was asking him for an answer he didn’t have.