Immortal
By: Shunsoku
Rating: T
Warnings: Angsty emo-ness. Weird POV changes.
Prelude
I had tried. And failed. Her hurt expression was all I saw as I screamed again, blood pouring from my open mouth. Somehow, no matter how far away I went, I couldn't get her off of my mind. The look on her face when I said I was leaving for a while broke my heart. I had broken my promise to myself. I'd sworn that I'd never hurt her. And I had.
I'd done it before. She shouldn't have looked so shocked and surprised. I'd explained countless times that I was a drifter by nature and that I had to be free to wander if I chose. She'd agreed, smiling and lightly hitting me on the shoulder. I was an amusement to her, nothing more. But, for one moment, I could have sworn I saw a light in her eyes I'd never seen before. It wasn't love. It couldn't be.
This was supposed to make it easier. Going away from them was supposed to make the pain stop. But it hadn't. If anything, it had only grew. The ache throbbed in my heart and I swore viciously. They wouldn't understand my reason's for what I was doing. They'd think I was weak. I couldn't explain it to them. I didn't want to risk hurting her again.
It was all Rezo's fault. Him and his damned experiments. That's all I had really been to him; an experiment, never a grandson. The very thought of his betrayal made my blood boil. He had been someone I'd looked up to, trusted even, and he'd broken my trust by turning me into a monster. Perhaps that was why I had promised never to trust again.
But then I had met her. I suppose Rezo had done one good thing by cursing me; I'd never have met her had I stayed human. She had been so full of energy, so lively. She was the light to my dark. The joy to my sorrow. Her very essence seeped into my blood and I found myself changing. I was opening up to people for the first time since the accident. I had laughed, and made friends. Annoying friends, yes, but I still cared deeply for all of them.
I coughed, suddenly falling to one knee. Blood stained the ground before me. Not much longer now.
A thought reached me through the pain and I started as I realized I wanted to live. I wanted to be with her. I wanted to have children and spend the rest of my life with her. I would make her smile. I would make her happy. I wanted to go back to her.
Foolish thoughts. She'd be happier without me. She had someone who cared for her as I did. Maybe more. Someone who would make her happier than I could ever strive to.
Not long ago, realizing that I wanted to live would have been met with scorn. Not long ago, I would have welcomed death with opened arms. And yet I couldn't have it then. All the knives and poisons couldn't harm me, and suicide was thereby out of the question. I couldn't drown, couldn't burn, and couldn't even suffocate myself. For years, I had lived in that horrible abyss of blackness and despair.
Even after I'd met her, I'd tried for a number of months to kill myself. But one of them had caught me and with a cocky grin, asked me why I would ever want to die. I think I punched him in the face, but his words had cut me to the quick. That was when I made the promise to protect her and not to hurt her. And I'd kept it, until now.
I smiled despite the wave of anguish which spread through my body, causing blood to pour from my very pores. It hurt, but her image kept me from noticing. This was it. Give myself entirely to her happiness, ensuring that she'd stay happy forever.
I let go.
Blinding light and pain coursed through me. Darkness clouded my vision and I didn't even try to fight it.
With my last breath, I whispered to the wind, the trees, and the air, "Lina, I love you."
And I was gone.
TO BE CONTINUED…