Decline
The last thing I remember was the wet heaviness of my dress, and the bloodstains being indistinguishable from the fabrics deep red color...
He must have chosen it for me knowing what was to happen...
1
I'd never felt more well rested in my entire life, awaking to find myself in the bed of a neat and fancy looking room. Several flower arrangements decorated the bedside table, and the air smelt fresh as the sunlight dimly illuminated the closed curtains. I couldn't quite remember where I was, or why I was. All I felt was an aura of peace flowing throughout my body and soul. But yet, I also felt somewhat demoralized. Excessive sleep does a good job of disorienting a person.
Examining the room, I tried to figure out where I was. Fancy wallpaper, almost obsessively clean. Where ever I am, the owner must keep it well kept. With nothing else to do, I carefully studied my surroundings. I'd already taken note of all the objects and defining features of the room. Still becoming akin to my eyesight made me want to stare endlessly into things I found to be beautiful. Today I studied the dust in the air, made visible by the patches of light beams which broke their way through the cracks in the curtains. To think I've been missing such sights all these years is truly saddening.
I let out a yawn, tasting the crisp air. I reached to rub my eyes awake, but found a moistness upon my skin. I brought my hand down to get a look at it. There was a light film of clear fluid coating my fingertips, glistening in the afternoon light. "Tears?" I questioned rhetorically. Thinking hard, I knew something was not right. I dug through my mind hoping to find an inkling of... something. And as all things go, nothing changed, until suddenly everything did. The memories of blood, confusion, not knowing what to think of my brother. They all became clear.
Doorknobs turning, the sound of a click and the sight of a man named Zero all appeared to my senses. The dark mask turned in my direction, feeling as if I was being judged. Though lacking eyes, the masks gaze bore deep into my inner being. Saying to me "Are you worthy?". I began to question it myself. "Are you worthy of my sacrifice?" no longer the mask asking me, but it's original owner. I couldn't answer the question.
With a shuffle and an upward motion the great judge of good and evil revealed itself to be only a boy. Tall, scruffy brown hair, green eyes and a boy. He had somber eyes, which refused to look directly into mine. Laying his gaze upon the ground he spoke "I hope some sleep has done you good.". He looked at me, resting his gaze for a moment. "Then again, maybe not.". I looked at my fingertips again. Suzaku's expression made me realize I wasn't the only one my tears could hurt. I wiped my face. "It's just very hot in here." I removed the covers from my body. "Could you turn down the thermostat?". He looked at me. I couldn't lie to him, not without him seeing through me. "Nunnally...". I cut him off.
"It's hot in here, Suzaku."
He set his mask on the desk near the door. He took hold of the temperature knob and made a counter clockwise movement with his hand. I felt the cool air reinvigorate the room, acting as I nice breeze to tousled my hair and pajamas. I let out a sigh mixed with a weep, but tried to pass it off as just a sigh.
"You don't need to act unhurt."
"That's because I'm not hurt."
He's in the same place as I am. I can't give his heart any more to bear. He is not to see me cry.
It was a pact I made with myself.
"Nunnally, I don't want to see you hold back like this." He paused, as I tear appeared in his eye, and his voice cracked defeatedly. "It can't bear it.".
I broke the pact almost immediately. He knew what I was thinking, feeling. That's what friends are for, I guess. I heaved over on the bed, letting everything all out at once. I held no knowledge of what I was doing, if I was crying, screaming or shaking. All I knew was the arms of a friend kept me close. Someone who felt the same things I did took hold of me, and together we shared in our grief. The tears of a boy were wetting the back of my neck.