Dedication Through Hymnos

Chapter 2: Implications

Written by: wrathie

Original Concept: Gust & Branpresto

Author's Notes: If I got a term wrong, please feel free to correct me. I'm still quite new to the AT universe

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Cocona could only smile as Ar Ru spluttered and turned red, she did wish that the Mother of all Anti-bodies is not so transparent for she to read her like a book.

It was painfully obvious that his attitude towards her, being almost identical to how she treats the other girls in the party, had made her a little curious towards him.

That curiosity was further deepened when he guarded her against attacks during attacks by the anti-bodies or from some of the guards that still continue to harass them

It is perhaps ironic that she was both the most dangerous and yet the one that stood out most from the group, making her a walking target if she was travelling with them.

Personally, she was still a little afraid of this red-haired little girl, she can be likened to a true devil after all, her 'creations' and 'children' did slay many people before she joined their side, sort of.

Thus she could not help but tease her a little, with more power and isolation it seems… that the more naïve they are after all.

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'I mean, I did not explicitly say that you had some affection for Aoto, did I?'

Blinking her eyelashes as innocently as she could manage, Cocona hoped that Croix did not catch her doing this as he would be scandalized at how his sister had grown and matured during her stay here.

She herself found it to be a normal process of growing up, she has to shed that naivety of a young girl early when she lost her siblings and parents after all… and it didn't help that she had to masquerade as a boy for quite some time.

Many atrocities towards people and Reyvatiel alike had been committed in front of her and there was little, if anything she can do but to fight on, in hope that what she was doing would make up for all the things that she did not do.

But now is not the time to reminisce on the future or the past, the present seems to be the more pressing matter.

'I… Why would I feel anything for that blubbering white haired idiot? He forced me to sing for so long just because he couldn't get rid of that Antibody carrier ship!'

She started on a long winded conversation that Cocona realized as denial of the situation and she just smiled mischievously while she was speaking.

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'He's insensitive, rude, have an uncouth mouth as well as being a huge pervert. Why would anyone, except for that other vessel fall in love with him?'

She ended with the same ferocious blush that had taken her face by storm and Cocona found herself linking the image of Cloche-sama over that small girl's face, her smile getting wider every second till she found herself giggling and unable to stop.

'W-why are you laughing at me!'

She raised her voice and viciously tackled her on the bed, causing both girls to fall out of the bed in the resultant scuffle. The two of them were not very close to each other and really, besides Tyria and Aoto who would not be intimidated or bothered by Ar Ru, with her past history as well as her proud demeanor to everyone around her.

Cocona can't say that she liked her very much either, there has to be a part of someone that made them tolerable or likeable, but for Ar Ru, she had to admit that only likeable part about her was that she is part of Tyria, besides her adorable looks of course…

But looks can kill.

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But she has to revise that thought now as Ar Ru was simply too adorable, like a rebellious kitten that she could not help but tease her a little. It shocked her that she would develop such a streak in her, but now she realized why some of the other, more elder girls like to tease Croix, Cloche-sama and Luca-san so much.

For Cro, most of the time he is oblivious to those taunts but not Luca-san, she would go red and flustered for a while… but she remembered vividly that even her, who was a younger girl at the time, found it cute how Cloche-sama would react violently or even in mannerisms that she did not show often, or at all when teased about Cro.

It made her wonder if it was a good thing that so many things, which had not made much sense previously, became known to her in this new journey.

'Noo… I'm not laughing~'

She tried to appease the younger looking girl as she wrestled with her, pushing her away while breaking into smiles as Ar Ru narrowed her eyes and pointed one of her hands at her while accusing her of lying.

Perhaps, she could see a part of herself in Ar Ru too?

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'But Ar Ru, you seemed awfully pleased when Aoto dived into your Binary Field… hmm?'

She smiled mischievously again and was rewarded by Ar Ru being unable to rebut her immediately, which meant her victory as she grinned victoriously at the flabbergasted girl as she hugged her tightly, cooing and petting her head like how Cro would do to her sometimes.

'Awww~ Ar Ru-chan~~ I wonder what your Binary Field is like… Then again, I wonder what Aoto sees in all of your Binary Fields…'

Not for the first time, she became slightly envious of Aoto and Cro being able to enter one's soulsphere while she can't. In a way it's a good thing, she did not want to know people's deepest secrets.

Luca-san is one key example and Cloche-sama… she somehow felt that her image of them would change severely if she ever got to know them as deeply as Cro did…

The girl in her arms struggled to get out of her grip and after a while she allowed her to do so with a bright smile on her face, a victorious one as Ar Ru was left panting and unable to comment from her questions.

'Ar Ru…'

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She crossed her arms and hugged her gently again, knowing that she was THIS close to exploding in rage and possibly killing her.

Or in another end of the spectrum, burst into tears amidst her inability to deny her scrutiny about feelings she had not experienced before in her whole life.

She'd imagine that Jakuri-san, who had spent hundreds of years by herself would have gone through the same emotional trauma when she faced her own feelings about Cro would have handled in a mature fashion befitting her image.

But she was willing to bet that Ar Ru probably didn't have that mental maturity as Jakuri-san did. Jakuri-san was similar to Ar Ru, but at least she had her good points… well, Cro could probably list a long list of it.

So she wanted to comfort the young(?) girl a little before she unleashed her pets to kill her or for her to run away just because she teased her a little.

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'Ar Ru… Listen to me…'

In her best imitation of Luca-san's voice, she gently eased the girl to sit down by her bed again while smiling at the twitchy girl. She did not have training or knowledge on therapy but she could at least do what Luca-san would do if she got upset.

'It's normal… to not admit at the start… Aoto is really not what you can call an attractive person. Hikari Gojo sensei is a much more attractive person than Aoto… Aoto is everything that you describe him to be.'

Cocona suppressed a smile as Ar Ru nodded at her and she was glad that she was settling down a little as she continued.

'He really doesn't have many good traits… but it is those bad traits that saved you, isn't that right Ar Ru?'

Before she could interrupt however, Cocona had continued her explanation.

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'He is stubborn, that's why he was willing to try and dive although it is full of risks instead of waiting for the system to be stabilized a little.

He's uncouth, but isn't that why you took him for an idiot… and not as a threat? Lastly… because he's insensitive, that means he is always truthful… that's why you believed in him, and us… and decided to join us, desho?'

She listed each of his flaws and showed them in a positive light, the way that Ar Ru's heart had probably known for a long time and she felt Ar Ru's body stiffen for a moment before she relaxed too and looked away uncomfortably from her.

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It was important for her to figure out those thoughts by herself through gentle persuasion and she allowed her some time to calm down before she continued to speak.

'And he has his good points too.. he's very kind and that's why he didn't want us to hurt you… he fought against the Clustanians for your sake as well as Saki-chan's sake… Aoto never gives up too… do you remember how many antibodies you sent against us to defend yourself?

I thought we were going to die there…. But he didn't give up, he wanted to reach you… even if it's for selfish reasons… for our reason, he didn't want to hurt you… and no matter what you did, he succeeded, didn't he?'

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She was telling nothing but the truth, and she was thankfully happy for that… there was no way she can beautiful someone like Aoto so much if it wasn't the whole truth.

Ar Ru was silent throughout her whole speech but Cocona wasn't about to force her into admitting anything to her, especially if she didn't trust her enough to open up to her.

After all, she was afraid of her opening up to her as well. She wasn't as experienced or mature as Luca-san or Cloche-sama, would she be able to provide the right advice to her?

But Murphy's Law work like clockwork and Ar Ru clung into her with her small arms, exerting strength that she did not think she had in her.

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'S-so… by your argument…. If there is only a small chance, a very very small chance! That.. that I really did… feel something for Aoto… w-what should I do?'

The question that had plagued many a teenager since young was thrown into Cocona's court and she took a deep breath before considering the answer.

She didn't have much experience in that department as well, her only one true crush was on Cro, but she was not going to dwell into that topic for long. The love triangle was complicated and it would only get more complicated if Cro actually felt something for her as well.

… something other than as a sister, obviously!

But other than that, she didn't really pay attention to boys her age or those that she met along her journey. She was… different in many ways and there was no way they could get along well enough to develop romantic feelings between them.

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Not to mention they were mostly much older than her and she treated them as her seniors in many fields.

Her closest friends were those of the same age, Sasha-chan, Luca-san, Cloche-sama... and many more that she knew were her very very good friends.

Even when she was disguised as a boy and going under the name of Tatsumi, she had not much encounters with the opposite sex… when she is the opposite sex.

… She's confusing herself just thinking about it.

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So to sum it up, she couldn't really give good advice. But sometimes, simple is best.

'I don't know.'

She answered honestly and she laughed softly when Ar Ru's eyes widened as she wanted to protest, surely disappointed in her.

'If you're really sure that you feel something for him, then… you'll have to find your own way to get close to him. Just be yourself… who you are in front of him. Everyone has their own way to show their own affections… Aoto is not a dummy…'

'…'

Ar Ru did not seem convinced and Cocona shrugged sadly as the younger girl fidgeted beside her.

'It may not work out all the time… but you'll never regret it. That feeling you have for him, it's something different, something special and something you'll always remember.

Something that is bitter as well as sweet, that feels so horrible and wonderful at the same time… overpowering you, making your whole mind think of him… not wanting him to be taken away from you, desho?'

Using her own feelings for Cro to describe to Ar Ru, Cocona was not surprised to see her thoughtfully considering her words and nodding to her in the end.

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'You can keep denying it Ar Ru… or you can face it, using your own way to tell him that you cared for him, more than you thought you could. When you do… no matter the answer… I'll be here to share with your joy or your pain.'

She didn't want to build Ar Ru's hopes up too much but at the same time, wanted her to know that she was here for her.

In a way, she knew she did something right when Ar Ru silently nodded her head, looking thoughtful. It occurred to her too that it was not necessarily a good thing as well.

It meant that she was indeed growing up and maturing faster than she ever imagined. Sure, being forced to live through so many ordeals that ordinary citizens will never go through paid a part, but she never saw herself as an Elderly sister figure at all till now.

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't-that doesn't mean that I really feel something for that idiot, y-you understand, Cocona?'

Blinking as she regained her spunk and energy, Cocona did not miss that she actually called her by her name, a great concession in her case se she nodded wistfully while smiling at her.

'Hai hai~'

'I-it's not like… n-not like I really feel something for him or… or will… do what you ask me to do! It's just an experiment! An experiment!'

Noting that the similarities to Cloche-sama ended only in her choice of words, Cocona nodded and tried to appease the young girl by petting her head.

'Then I hope to hear your results… Ar Ru~'

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Cocona didn't know what she wanted to accomplish by helping Ar Ru, giving her advice and prodding her towards the general direction of heartbreak and disappointment.

She certainly didn't like seeing her friends in pain, but… well, she sorta knew how unrequited love hurts. Hers is a love that is forbidden and perhaps one that is buried so deep that she was glad it will never awaken.

Even if it hurts, even if it may be dash ones hopes… she knows that her friends who have fallen in love once will never forget it.

The strong feelings that they felt; the desire and the emotions that surged through them and through their hearts are real and one that showed that they are truly alive and living life fully.

She can almost describe them to be close to how she felt when Singing along with Cloche-sama and Luca-sama… a dedication through Hymnos.

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Author's Note: I'm not sure if i should end it like this.. but it seems like a good place to end...