Disclaimer: I don't own this. Especially not this chapter! I wish I did though but everything belongs to Arina Tanemura.
A/N: This chapter is mainly about how Meroko feels after discovering about her past in book 4 of the manga series. This chapter depicts exactly whatever that has happened in the manga. No doubt, it would be different from the anime. Eventually it would progress on to the other characters so please be patient. I don't intend for this fic to be too long so I suppose it should be done in a few chapters' time. Please drop by a review after you've read and tell me your thoughts. Thanks.
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Fade Away
Prologue
Meroko Yui collapsed to the ground feeling an utter sense of helplessness and weakness course through her.
The pain…
The agony…
It was tearing her up from inside…
From within…
The memories once lost, were back…
And here they were, haunting her…
"Fuzuki! I… Eh… Have you ever been in love?" the shy girl of sixteen, called Rikyou Moe had asked her best friend Kouyama Fuzuki as she blushed deeply.
Answering with a knowing giggle Fuzuki had replied," Haha… I know Moe… You are in love with the violinist… Right?"
Turning away as if in an attempt to hide her crimson face from her teasing friend, Moe said softly, "It must remain a secret… Promise?"
"All right!"
She had trusted her so, knowing that Fuzuki was her best friend and was engaged. She was the last the person, Moe would have thought who would betray her, who would take him away from her…
Why Fuzuki?
Why?
The pain…
It was growing into a ball, which tormented her insides. She curled herself up in a corner and hugged her knees close to herself, as if to keep herself as warm as possible, to drive the coldness of the memories…
Or perhaps she had done that in a bid to escape from the memories?
It didn't matter…
It didn't work after all…
When she had heard of the new engagement arrangement where by she, Rikyou Moe was to be engaged with the man who was Fuzuki's ex-fiancé Moe had gaped in disbelief and confusion.
It couldn't be true…
She had ran all the way to the Kouyama residence, wanting to find Fuzuki, to ask her if it was true, to tell her all about it and find out that it was all a prank and laugh about it…
But the sight that greeted her in the backyard of the Kouyama's residence shocked her beyond belief.
There, in the middle of the beautiful garden were her best friend and the man she loved, entangled in each other's arms with their lips pressed to each other, locked in a passionate kiss.
"Moe!" Fuzuki had called out anxiously, pulling away from his embrace, no doubt in a bid to explain herself, "I can explain! Things aren't the way they are!"
A peal of laughter, so cold and bitter, unlike her usual self escaped her," I get it… You two… You've been secretly seeing each other all the while huh?"
"No!" there she went again, "No! It's not like that!"
Moe screamed, "You've betrayed me! To think I trusted you so! You betrayed me! You, Fuzuki my best friend! You betrayed me!"
Hands clapped over her ears, determined not to hear any more lies from the person whom she had known as her best friend for years, Moe took flight. How long had the two of them been going on? How long had the deceit been going on?
Lies… Lies! They had been lying to her all this while! To think she trusted them so and even told Fuzuki that she loved Seijyuurou, actually believing that Fuzuki would help her…
The sense of betrayal…… Had awakened her from her perfect dream to the harsh reality…
She had returned home, feeling weak and distraught from her outburst, unable to resist the assaults laid by her prospective husband.
Midway however, she had summoned up all her strength, all her hatred instilled in her from the betrayal and directed them towards the creep atop of her. Caught off guard, he fell off, letting his prey run loose with her robes half undressed.
And in the heavy rain, Rikyou Moe ran…
Away from her troubles…
Away from her horrible fianc
Away from her home…
Away from her world…
Away from Fuzuki…
Why Fuzuki? We were so close… Why?
It didn't matter now…
Nothing else did.
And atop a bridge, Moe took out a shiny knife that she had taken along with her.
Perfect raindrops fell on it, breaking…
She pressed the knife hard against her soft skin, hoping that the coldness of the blade would wake her up from this horrible nightmare…
And the droplets of crimson red dripped from that long cut…
Drip. Drip. Drip.
The heavy downpour didn't stop.
Neither did the steady flow of blood.
And slowly, Rikyou Moe was gone, born in her place, in another world, was…
Meroko Yui.
She took off the glove. The skin beneath was still smooth and fair, flawless, without a mar.
Strange… Shouldn't there be a scar?
But there was none…
Then…
Then why did it still hurt?
Why?
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"Mitsuki… Is there someone in your family called Koga Seijyuurou?" (A/N: This is the name of the violinist Moe/Meroko loved. Correct me if I am wrong.)
Mitsuki Kouyama had seemed surprised. "Yes… He's my grandfather…"
Yet another cold bitter laugh came. Fate sure had a funny way of arranging events. Drawing out a whip hung at her belt, Meroko gestured, "See this whip Mitsuki-chan? It's what I use for catching souls."
And she had cracked the whip in the direction of defenseless Mitsuki…
Only to hit Takuto who had just rushed to stop Meroko in the nick of time.
"What are you doing Meroko?!" Takuto had yelled angrily in disbelief at his partner's actions. What had invoked the sudden change in the fun loving bunny Shinigami? "Why? Why are you doing this?"
"As you can see, I am taking her soul back with us. It is our job as Shinigami, Takuto. Do not forget that. " She had narrowed her eyes, her voice clipped and distant.
You won't understand Takuto… You won't…"You won't want to do this!" He tried to talk sense into her, but as he saw the determination and coldness in her large eyes, he said instead," You'll have to pass through me before you get to her!"
She couldn't describe how she felt then.
All she knew was that she was tired.
She wanted it all to end now.
"Then you shall disappear. Takuto."
And she cracked her whip again, bent with the intent of killing him.
He withstood it however. Barely.
Watching him tremble, Meroko felt a multitude of emotions surfacing from deep within her heart, from the memories that had been locked away and recovered since her death decades back.
Why do you protect Mitsuki so wholeheartedly? Don't!
You do not truly love her…
Why? Why am I always the one who is rejected? Seijyuurou! And you too, Takuto!
Confused and lost, Meroko wondered aloud as tears welled up in her eyes," Why? Why is it always me?"
Why?Ignoring their cries, she took flight once more.
Away from them all…
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She had thrown herself into the comforting embrace of another man she had once given her fragile heart to. His presence was reassuring, as she buried herself in his chest, tears that spilled from her eyes, staining his vest.
Softly she had murmured, "Take me away Izumi… Take me away… Take me away from them all… I want to go back…"
His eyes had widened in shock," Are you sure Meroko? Can you bear to leave them?"
She had hesitated briefly before mumbling a reply. "It makes no difference Izumi, whether I exist or not…"
"As you wish…" and he had kissed her softly.
She in return had returned it, seeking solace in the much-needed sign of affection.
At least there was one person in this cold world that returned her affections, her love…
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A/N: Remember to review! Thanks!