The Corrupted [side 96]

Chrome's POV

"Then I'll be corrupt with you!"

I didn't know what had pushed me to say that; I just felt that those were the right words to say at that moment. I didn't even know how those words became 'right', as they must have come from somewhere deep inside me and not from my head.

I felt some kind of relief after saying it, but one look at his face and the small bit of relief turned to a wave of fear.

Fear of what, I don't remember…but I know I had long forgotten that fear…forgotten it ever since I met him.

But the fear came back, and looking at those eyes of different colors…one true and one as if tainted by blood…the fear multiplied tenfold and I understood what it was.

I fear that he would reject me.

I lowered my gaze…looked down to the imaginary ground where we sat.

If there exists a perfect place, then it must be an illusion, everybody said. But this place…the grass, the flowers, the clouds, and the sky…everything here was made by Mukuro-sama's power, by his illusions. Should I call it perfect even though I am here? Am I to be called perfect too since it was his illusion that made me live? I, tainted by something unknown yet so powerful that no one would want me?

It hurts.

And the pain brings with it the tears.

But I stop them.

That battle had been finished long ago…that battle about me.

This is another battle…this time, for him.

I blinked away the tears (I would never want him to think of me as weak), and sighed.

"Then I'll be corrupt with you!"

I have said it; there's no turning back now. I will face his answer with courage.

Were he to refuse, I will not hold him back.

The moment I turned my gaze back at him, my heart decided to jump out of my chest.

He was smiling.

Not the smile he wore when facing opponents.

Not the smile he wore when ridiculing them.

It wasn't even the smile of sympathy he almost always gives me.

I didn't know how I knew it…

But I felt he was showing me his true smile.

And I understood.

We'll be corrupt together.

If what we have is not eternal, then I shall let myself vanish.