Disclaimers on the characters and plot of the series Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wo Shitteiru. They are the sole property of the illustrious Odagiri Hotaru-sensei.
Spoiler! This contains characters and events from the manga of UraBoku from chapter 37, 'That Which Connects The Heart', and onward. This is told primarily from Otona Ria's point of view. Her and her partner's names from their previous life are not revealed in the manga and are left that way intentionally. 'Asagi' is Shinmei Sairi's name from their previous life.
100 Years Ago…
"That was such an easy mission! It was child's play!" she declared with a beaming smile. "But I'm glad we're back safely."
Her partner looked at her with a hopeful twinkle in his eyes. "Since we got back earlier than expected, I think you'll be able to meet my brother today."
"Brother…?" She didn't recall him having a brother in their previous life. But she did recall that this time around, four Zweilt guardians were born as siblings. It upset her slightly that he didn't tell her sooner. Still, she had a bounce in her step as they walked deeper into Twilight Hall.
He only smiled at her. "Yes, it seems that he reincarnated as my brother this time around."
She smiled back easily in return with eyes now lighted with excitement. "Who is it?"
"Well, speak of the devil, and he shall appear!" Her eyes traveled up and she almost gasped out loud.
"Hello, nii-san." The tall and handsome stranger greeted her partner. He then turned to look at her. "Is she your partner?"
"Ah, yes, she is. His name is Asagi." She could only nod dumbly, star-struck by the dark beauty his appearance gave. The rest of the introductions went out without her attention and she could only watch as the siblings exchanged a short conversation. A whisper of envy snaked into her heart.
They both had Yuki, who was their mother, their healer, their god. They both had each other, their bond, their unwavering trust, their constant presence.
But he had a brother, a blood tie, a friend. She did not.
She only had him.
"It seems that the next battle will involve many general class, perhaps even a few S-class Opast. I'll be sending each of you to a different location, as the oracle indicated that Reiga will be manipulating multiple portals this time," Takashiro-sama told them gravely from his seat in front of the fireplace. "Please wait for further instructions. I'll have our battle plan together in two days. So prepare yourselves. You are dismissed."
The Zweilt guardians remained silent with their faces grim as they filed out of the room. Yuki was not in attendance, as usual. They broke off into the direction their respective rooms. She loitered a bit in the grand hall before going out to the garden and sat down on the edge of the fountain. Her dark curls framed her downcast face. There was an ill sense in her heart concerning the upcoming battle.
"What's with the down look?" She looked up and found him standing next to her. She then resumed staring at their reflection in the rippling water.
Sighing, she admitted, "I'm a little scared. I feel like something bad is going to happen."
"Hmm," he answered nonverbally. She welcomed the weight of his hand on her head and his fingers raking gently through her curls. "You know you'll always be safe with me by your side right?"
She stared at him with tired but hopeful and trustful eyes. With a resolute nod, she stood up and pushed him into the fountain. He dragged her in soon after.
They laughed away their worries because they had each other.
"Don't die, don't die, don't die," she chanted as she pressed her hand on the large gaping hole in his abdomen. "You can't die. Yuki is coming! She is, I know it!"
There was no one on the ravaged field. He coughed and blood spilled from his lips. With one hand frantically wiping the blood from his chin, she pleaded, "Hold on, just hold on! Yuki will be here soon!"
He gasped and his liquid amber eyes fluttered, desperately trying to focus. His voice was raspy as he spoke weakly. "A-are you crying? Don't cry."
"Shhh, don't talk. Just rest, recover. Please, don't die," she whispered brokenly as she held back her sobs. Her tears continued to fall. "You are so stupid. Baka, baka, baka!"
His hand managed to reach up and caress her cheek. His fingers were losing its warmth and the cool metal of his ring, his Zweilt marker, his bond to her, pressed into her skin. "Aa, s-sorry. B-be saf-fe."
"Wh-at? No!" She felt the surge of panic overwhelming her now. "No, don't go. Stay with me, please. Yuki! Yuki, where are you?"
Smudged bloody finger marks were left on her cheek as a soft glow surrounded them. It built in intensity and shot into the sky in a single beam of light before exploding into small light particles. His soul, it was gone forever.
A rush of feet sounded from behind her. Someone gasped. Boots clumped past to her and the Opast who recently joined their ranks knelt next to the limp body of their nemesis. She didn't care for the looks directed at her, or the hand that landed on her shoulder in comfort.
She only watched as his body sagged in her lap and she couldn't hold back any more. She could only cry uncontrollably with him in her arms.
"May I come in?" She faced the door from which he came. With a despondent nod from her, Asagi stepped barefoot into her room. He slid the door shut and joined her on the balcony. They stared silently out into the small garden.
Guilt seeped out from every fiber of her body as she struggled to find the words. He spoke up first.
"I don't blame you for his death, if that is what you are worrying about."
She stared at him in painful confusion, as she had expected nothing but harsh words from his younger brother. Her voice was hushed with anguish. "But I was too weak. I couldn't protect him."
"He did what was necessary," he told her plainly. "If it meant that he had to sacrifice his own life to take down the Opast, then you should respect his death."
"You don't understand!" she hissed with her throat tightening. Her fists pressed down on her knees as she vividly recalled the final moments of their fight against the S-class Opast. "That blow was meant for me! Why did he have jump right in front of me?"
His fist slammed onto the stone railing. Her eyes were wide with surprise at the uncommon outburst from the normally aloof man. His gold eyes swirled with black as he glared at her. "So you regret that my brother sacrificed his life to protect you? Is that all he is worth to you?"
She gaped at him and couldn't stem the tears from falling as his words hit home. She fell into a heap of sobs and tears as he stood up.
"I would have hit you to snap you to your senses. But I don't hit women and I doubt my brother would rest peacefully knowing that I had to resort to such tactics to wake a little girl to reality," he said to her coldly before exiting her room.
"You are such a big idiot," she told no one in particular. The clearing sandwiched between a bamboo grove and the mountainside was empty except her. Silence reigned for a while.
"I'm sorry I couldn't save you," she uttered softly as she touched the tall black stone. His name was freshly etched into the standing marker.
The bamboo forest rustled from the wind. The sun was warm on her back. Their battle ended finally, with no more casualties. Yuki was half-mad and under the care of the Opast Luka, and the other Zweilt dispersed to live out the rest of their lives. Years later, she still had the emptiness gnawing inside her.
Placing her head on the cool surface, she closed her eyes and sighed. "Please, watch over me. And don't worry. I'll watch out for your otoutou-kun. I know how much he means to you. I promise."
She brushed his name one last time and turned around. She nearly collided into Asagi, but his hands steadied her by the shoulders.
"You should be careful," he muttered. He looked off to the side.
"A-Asagi," she gasped. How long had he been standing there? "Sorry. Uh, if you'll excuse me."
AN: Ria said something really interesting at the end of chapter 40, 'This Life And The Afterlife' and it really made me want to write this. To be concluded in the next chapter. Thanks for reading!