Bara: ohisashiburi desu, minna-san.
I humbly apologize to you all for unattendance of Hitsu-sama for this update. She said, since she already made a promise to update, somehow she managed to do it. She really hopes that revya-san doesn't feeling disappointed because of this late update, and of course the other readers too.
And thanks for Keikoku Yuki-sama (uhm.. she called you yuki-chan back then when she talked to me..) for encouraging her to update her story. If you don't mind, please suggesting some "if" situation for the continuation of this story.
No more chit-chat then,
This chapter's situation is: "WHAT IF BREAK AND ECHO SWITCHING PLACES?"
Disclaimer: Mochizuki Jun-sensei
Warning: maybe a bit too much intimacy between master and servant.. and since they switched places, the pairings will be Vincent-Break and Sharon-Echo, so you could say shonen-ai and shojo-ai too,, typos, grammar mistakes, and un-beta as always. Spoiler and OOCness would surely appear too.
The changes from the start actually would change alotof things, but since it's only a fanfic, let it flow as it is. Oh, and this story's main charaters are Break and Echo, so the others were almost ignored by Hitsu-sama. Please enjoy *bows*
I also recommend you to have some snacks with you while on it, because it's a long chapter.
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SCENE 1 –Break is Vincent's-
"Vincent-sama! Your injuries haven't healed yet! Don't run by yourself!" one of the Nightray's servant ran towards the little blonde boy who ran happily in the middle of snowing.
It only had been two days since he was found by the Nightray family. He was so bored thus he felt so happy to see the outside world. Well, he had been kept in the mansion since he was found.
Seeing red and black in the middle of white snow, little Vincent quickly ran towards it. He was quite shock of what he found, but then he chuckled slightly. Finally the servant reached the kid she was given to take care of.
"That was not good, Vincent-sama..." the servant spoke between her short breath. "If you behave like that..." The servant finally noticed a body, or should she say 'a corpse' which covered in blood.
"Ne, take him home." The little boy pulled the edge of the servant's skirt. "I like him, take him home."
"But Vincent-sama.. this man.."
"Still alive! Hurry, take him home~"
The poor servant couldn't—shouldn't complain. He is Nightray after all (even if he's not pure). With a deep sigh and alotof effort, the servant dragged the body to the Nightray's mansion. Vincent happily followed her, his heterochrome eyes sparkled in excite.
.
"I found him first, so he is mine."
The little boy stated calmly in front of the head of Nightray family. His gaze never averted from the old man. He smiled wickedly as he held his scissors preciously.
"But you haven't reached the age to have your own private servant yet."
"Well, make it special for me then." I found a toy. There's no way I will let him go. "I won't ask for anything else, except the one about finding my brother."
The said man sighed and claimed defeat for the young boy he just adopted. Not that he wanted to, but he was digging information from him. That's why he made him a Nightray thus he wouldn't betray the family.
"Fine. You will get him as your personal servant once you turn twelve. Until then, he will work as a mere Nightray servant and trained to be a personal servant for you." The old man said half-heartedly to the greedy boy.
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SCENE 2 –Her Little Sister-
"Who is that, Sharon-sama?"
The tall boy asked the young lady of the Rainsworth dukedom. The soft-brown-haired girl only chuckled as she saw the little girl on the bed.
"Sssh... she will be my little sister."
Reim, the tall boy, cleaned up his glasses and whispered to the lady. "The Rainsworth will adopt her?"
"Yes yes~" Sharon giggled and nodded happily. "I finally can have a little sister~"
Reim looked at the little girl who slept soundly on the king-sized bed in one room of the Rainsworth mansion. He would be taking care of these two girls while Lady Sheryl took her time to reply Rufus' (love) letter. Reim sighed again when he remembered that he must not come back to Barma dukedom unless he bring back a reply from Sheryl-sama.
.
"Sharon...neechan..?" the white-haired girl looked up at Sharon while she laid her head on her lap.
"Yes, Echo-chan?" Sharon patted her head gently. "You are gradually becoming used to call my name with 'neechan'. I'm happy."
The air breezed softly, blowing their hair gently. The tree that they used to rest under had its leaves flew away, making such an beautiful scenery before the girls' eyes. Even so, that didn't match up the event that suddenly happened. The elder girl startled as her little sister pulled her down. Face was just inches away from the other.
"Aren't you afraid of me~?" the girl on Sharon's lap suddenly changed behavior.
"Ah, Zwei?" the noble girl smiled, not looking afraid at all. "How are you?"
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SCENE 3 –The Reason to Keep on Living ... in Hell-
"Please stop doing that, Mister!"
The one-eyed man gouged his wounded left soket eye again. The servants started feeling tired of stopping him from hurting himself more. It had been two weeks that the man lived under the Nightray's mercy. He did nothing as servant because he was still recuperating. He spent almost all his time sitting on the bent of the window or just shutting himself in his room. His wounds didn't heal because he kept hurting himself more and more. No one ever understood his motive for hurting himself, no one was brave enough to approach the man. No one, except his soon-to-be master.
"That's not good, Mister." The blonde boy grabbed the white-haired man's hand, but he was thrown by the man. The nearest servant quickly helped him up.
"Stay away from me!" the man shouted irritatedly to the boy who always glued to him from the first time he woke up in this unknown mansion.
Vincent chuckled and smiled as nothing happened. He playfully walked around the wounded man and stared deeply to the man's only eye.
"The cause of misfortune, do you know that, Mister?" he pointed to his eye, the red eye. "Your red eye. 100 years ago, those who have red irises like you and me are called 'the cause of misfortune'. Isn't it good to live in present?"
The white-haired man looked at the unbelievably boy in front of him. His wicked smile, his heterochrome eyes, his abnormal attitude, everything about the boy made him shiver. He was frightening because he wasn't like any ordinary boy.
"But I'm happy that the man I choose to be my servant has such an eye, because I have one eye like that too~" Vincent started climbing onto the window and sat beside the wounded man. The servants looked at them with worry. The white haired man's left eye had its bandage loosened and reddened by blood. It made them even more worried.
"You are breaking, Mister. Since the time that I've found you until now, you really are breaking." Vincent's eyes looked at him with threatening gaze. "But, as my servant later, you have to serve me and obey my every words."
"Don't forget that you are mine. I will be the one who break you, Mister. Until then, I can't let anything breaks you, can I?" the little Vincent giggled again. "Ah, I have decided. From now on your name will be 'Break'. It suits you very well, doesn't it?"
When the blonde boy left, Break, the white-haired man's name from now on, was treated by the servants.
.
Sounds of swords clashing each other was heard from outside Elliot's window. His soft blue eyes glistened in excitement as he watched two man fighting—training. Finally the train ended with the white haired man attacked the other's hand thus his sword fell off from his hand and that was the fifth winning for the white haired man. Elliot clapped his hands for the man's continuation of winning. The said man looked at the young noble boy at the window.
"You are a great swordsman, Mister! Come here! Tell me your name!" the little boy called out the man.
"It's Break, Elliot-sama." The man kneeled before the boy.
"Are you one of our servant?" the young boy asked curiously. He jumped out of the window to look at him properly. Break only nodded and kept his head down. "Cool! I never saw someone as skill as you in sword-fighting, Break! I want to see more."
"My deeply apology, Elliot-sama, but Master said that I shouldn't come near any of his son." Break said in a servant's manner.
"Who? Father?" the little Elliot sounded angry. "I will ask him to let you train me. That way is ok, right? I will be your apprentice!"
"No, you can't, Elliot-sama!" Break suddenly looked up and saw the noble boy with pure look in his eyes stared back at him. I am nothing more than Vincent's thing. I have no more determination on living. I will give my life up once he turns twelve which means next year. I shouldn't have any connection with another Nightray, especially this little boy.
"Why? Do you underestimate my skill with sword?" Elliot looked ... hurt.
"No, it's not that ..."
"Then, you have no right to say anything. You will be my trainer, Break." Elliot smiled happily. Break was kind of lightened when he saw that smile. So pure and unbreakable. So strong and shining. Completely different from the boy he had known for years. A completely different person with Vincent with bright aura oozing out from him.
Is all Nightray boy like this? He breaks all the fear I have for that twisted golden and red eyed boy. He's like the sun in my dark days. He is just like ... Akio. For the first time since he arrived at that Nightray's mansion, he smiled.
"That's a good expression, Break." Elliot patted the white haired man's head with his child hand. Break stared blankly at the young Nightray. He felt somehow relaxed. He could finally recall his memories when he still served the Sinclair family.
"As you become my sword trainer, you can't have a servant manner to me. Trait me as your apprentice, scold me when I'm wrong, praise me only when I improve. I like it fair and square." Elliot said with bright smile on his face. He cupped Break's hand with his little hands. "Yoroshiku ne, Sensei."
.
"Only stupid servant will wear such fancy clothes, kekeke~"
"And that stupid servant is me, Emily~"
With smile on his face, Break strangled Emily, the doll he made by himself and always by his side. He played velontriquism everytime. He learned to sew and knit because that Vincent always broke the dolls in his room but didn't like someone to throw them away. This sudden changes happened in a year since he met the young Nightray boy which became his apprentice for sword-fighting. He managed to smile, he managed to live, he managed to gain his power once again, he managed to plan his purpose in life, he managed to stay by Vincent's side without fear anymore. That's to say, but he was still a mere servant and had become a personal servant of Vincent.
"Break, are you breaking again~?"
The twelve years old boy found his servant in his room, changing clothes into something..fancy, that Vincent ordered him to wear. As his personal servant, of course Break had to wear different clothes from the other servants.
"You made Master angry again, useless old man~" the doll insulted Break, but they laughed in harmony.
"Seems like that. Hihihi~"
"bring me tea if you're done, Break." Vincent said to his now personal servant. Beautifully, Break bowed to the boy.
With his usual manner to Vincent, Break took Vincent's scissors gracefully. He smiled fakely.
"Do you want your scissors to be sharpened, Vincent-sama?"
The said master just smiled and leaned back to the sofa, ripping the already broken doll apart.
#
SCENE 4 –Echo found happiness, but Zwei ...-
"Don't be so stiff, Echo." A woman combed Echo's hair and smiled.
She usually had a teatime in the garden with her only children, Sharon, but that day she spent a very calming afternoon with two addition. A white-haired girl with stoic face and a spectacle boy who became nervous easily. The lady smiled to Sharon and the tall boy, asking them to come.
In that beautiful garden, Sharon happily poured tea to each cup on the table. She was surprisingly happy, serving cakes and tea by herself. Lady Shelly looked at her with genuine smile.
"Echo-chan, say 'aah'~" Sharon took a piece of cake and tried to feed it to Echo. The younger girl looked troubled but she opened her mouth and ate the cake. "Does it taste good?"
Echo nodded, still expressionless. On the other hand, Reim was kind of ... impatient by looking the girl, but it didn't mean he will do something big. He was only a servant, no more. Nevertheless, he was impatient and he was asked to take care of the girls, so at least he should do something.
Nervously, Reim took Echo's and Sharon's hands, then he brought them sit under the tree. He also brought the tea and cakes with him.
"E-echo-sama.."
"Just Echo, please." The young girl cut his sentence.
"Uhm.. Echo.." Reim stumbled upon his words. His unsteady eyes was hidden behind his glasses. He gave the girl a cup of tea and displayed a cake. "Please say if you're feeling uncomfortable. I-I think.. it is best if you used to the environment first. Don't you think garden is a good place?"
Reim tried to smile at Echo but he was too stiff. His smile looked troubled. Fortunately, there were three of them, so Sharon help him by starting conversation and the tea time. Lady Shelly just smiled as she sipped her tea, looking at the three children gathered together and had a wonderful time for themself.
"Kyahahaha~! What a bunch of children! So stupid and innocent, ahahaha~!"
The one who startled is Reim. Echo suddenly laughed insanely and used such rudeness towards him and Sharon. Reim took off his glasses and cleaned it. He looked even nervous. It seemed that he didn't know this side of Echo. On the contrary, Sharon replied with smile.
"Zwei~? Long time no see. How are you doing? It's good to not see Echo-chan in pain while changing with you."
"As bold as usual, Sharon-neechan. Kufufufu~"
Reim was even more surprised as the two girls talked to each other without bad feeling. The usually expressionless girl was changed into some kind of bad girl. She looked at the only boy there with grin on her face. Reim suddenly felt chill sent through his spine.
"Well well, look at this new face~" Zwei slowly approached Reim. She was much shorter than Reim, but she gave more threatened than anyone there. She put her hands to the boy's chest and continued talking. "Let's play?"
Zwei pushed Reim until he fell with a thud. The said boy was pulled back to reality. He stood back and fixed his glasses.
"Echo! What's wrong with you?"
"It's Zwei." The girl talked back to the boy. Reim felt chill again, but he maintained to grip his sanity. "Isn't it rude to not introduce yourself?"
Reim looked at the other girl. Sharon understood his confusion, but she just nodded at him.
"I'm Reim Lunettes, a servant under Barma dukedom. But under some circumstances, right now I'm serving Rainsworth dukedom." Reim spoke firmly and bowed his head down to the white-haired girl in front of him.
Out of the blue, the insane girl bursted out laugh. "A foolish girl and a servant boy? How much more fun this situation could be?"
Without everyone even noticed, a hit of harisen landed on Zwei's head. The girl turned around as she rubbed his head. There was Lady Shelly.
"No rude words allowed when you play. Didn't I said that before, Zwei?" the lady said politely to the girl. Reim looked in disbelief. It seemed that every Rainsworth has harisen on her hand.
"Shut up!" the girl shouted at the lady. But suddenly she held her head and gritted her teeth. She hugged herself as if she was in pain.
"Zwei...?" Sharon braved herself and came closer to her little sister.
"Shut up ... shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!"
The girl screamed. She pushed everyone off and she ran out of the garden, leaving the others behind. Reim was about to ran after her, out of reflex, but he was stopped.
"Lady Shelly...?"
Reim stunned because he was hugged by the lady. His face flushed red, but he didn't do anything, not even struggled to release himself from her.
"She needs time for herself. Let her be for a while. You can search for her later .. or not." She whispered closely to Reim's ear, making his heart raced. She giggled at Reim's reaction. "Because I'm sure she'll be back by herself."
Meanwhile, Zwei was having hard time with Echo. They fought inside their mind, their own world.
You can't harm them! I won't let you!
Hahaha~ who do you think you are? You are just echo~
No! I- I-
See? You are stammering~ you are just echo!
NO!
What can you do? I'm the one who control this body right now
I- I.. I will control it back!
Huh? Are you dreaming? You will never win against me~
I will! I don't care ... but I.. I will fight you!
What's with you?
I like them.. I like .. Sharon-neechan... I like Reim-san.. I like Rainsworth.. I like them all! I won't let you hurt them, not even a scratch!
You are stupid, really~ you—
I won't lose!
You can't—
I will fight you! For them .. because it's the first time I have someone who likes me ...
Shut up!
They like me! Even if I'm just an echo.. even if I'm worthless..
I say shut up!
Why can't we peacefully share this body? Why Zwei? They don't mind our double personality
SHUT UP!
Echo won't shut her mouth until she gain control of her body or until you stop fighting
I SAY SHUT UP! YOU STUBBORN LITTLE GIRL!
...
Good. Now I must go back to them~
NO! Echo won't let you!
You're really stubborn...
I know you like them too, right?
Who—
You're just not honest.. you are afraid you will disappear, ne..?
Don't cut me!
Zwei, it's ok. You won't disappear just because you have a good side
What the hell are you talking about?
If you are not twisted, you are not you, right? That's why you're afraid ... of losing yourself.. because you will disappear... but you won't! Believe me!
What do you know about me, Echo? Isn't it you who need to be afraid now?
No Zwei.. it's about us..
Oh, now you think you are smart~?
Sharon-neechan once told me .. that .. I am you, and you are me. We are two but one. I ... accept you as me, as another me ... but, will you accept me?
Wha~~t? Do you lost your mind?
If you accept me, Sharon-neechan said that it will be better for us. We can change easier and we don't have to feel pain anymore
Mo~~~ron! Ahahaha~~! You are fooled by that girl~
No! She won't lie to me! I believe her! Echo believes her!
Yeah~ but unfortunately I don't. Hahahaha~
ZWEI!
I don't believe her~!
ZWEI!
All of you are stupid~ stu~~pid~
LISTEN ZWEI!
... huh?
You know that it's true, why can't you accept me? Why can't you accept it?
...
Answer me, Zwei...
I hate it ..
.. What?
I hate it!
What do you hate?
Everything ... you .. them .. this world ..
Why..?
'cause I'm not in there
But ... you are there ...
No! It's you. They like Echo. They can hear the echo, but they can't see the real noise. I hate it! I'm the Noise!
They like you too, Zwei
And you just want peace in your head, right? You want me to disappear because it's alotof easier without me inside you! No way I will let it, Echo~
They accept me.. they accept us, Zwei. It's easier for me if I know you won't harm them. That way, we can change without feeling pain. You can appear whenever you like it, just because I know you like them too
Che. You are talking too much, you're just an echo
But I have voice! That's what Sharon-neechan told me too
Now you're all over her, sharon-neechan this, sharon-neechan that! It's annoying!
Then accept me! Accept it!
Shut up! You're talking out of topic
It's you who talking out of topic!
Damn you Echo...
They like you. I believe that they will welcome you, because you are me, and I am you.
Cih. I never see you this stubborn before
That's because I like them. And I like you too, Zwei. I want to save you. I want us to be one in unity.
Fine, fine. I accept you, satisfied?
Yes~! I know you are not that evil, Zwei
Who said that~? Hahaha~ I'm still evil, 'cause that's just the way I am~
Zwei felt no more pain in her head. She took a deep breath and looked around. Why the hell am I in my room..? She totally forgot that she ran to her room in the mansion from the garden. Her room was a total mess from her fought with Echo. She didn't recognize it also. Well, whenever she was inside her own world, she would forgot everything outside it. But it wouldn't be the same anymore. As she recalled Echo, she laughed like crazy. She rolled on her bed and kept laughing. I accept her~? Hahahaha~!
Don't forget that I can watch you clearly, Zwei, from your mind. Echo talked to her half with her plain tone. And as I said before, you can appear as much as you want, because we are one. I understand you,and vice versa.
Zwei sat up. She fixed herself and went out of the room. Her smile didn't fade away. Still the same grin, still the same wicked smile, with sick-look on her eyes, she walked playfully to the outside, to the garden. But it wasn't the same Zwei. I know that, Echo.
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SCENE 5 –Helping The Little Gilbert, Helping Oz-
"You're going to catch a cold."
The black-wavy-haired boy looked up as he heard a girl's voice behind him. He was wet from the rain, but the girl seemed to not mind that fact and put her umbrella over him. His golden irises widened in surprise.
"Nice to meet you, Gilbert-san. My name is Echo Rainsworth."
The said girl bowed a bit as she introduced herself to the boy who seemed at the same age as her. She took the umbrella back to her side. Her face held no expression, not even a smile or sincere look there. With a light-blue dress she wore, she looked even more adorable than she usually do, though she hid it by a long and black robe. A big-white ribbon tied on her neck beautifully. She also wore a fancy-looking hat. Her boots made splash noises as she walked over to the kneeling, helpless boy.
"How ... do you know my name..?" Gilbert asked.
"Because I'm here to tell you good news." The boy only looked at him blankly, absorbing the information from the girl he just met in that terrible day.
"You have a little brother, he's an adopted child of the Nightray house. It seems that he had been searching for you all the time. The Nightray come to our estate ... it seems that they desire to adopt you too, Gilbert-san."
A memory suddenly appeared in Gilbert's head as he heard the word 'Nightray'. He blinked at the white-haired girl in front of him.
"My little brother ... is in the Nightray house?" he blinked again as he stated the sentence that Echo just said. "I'm ... to be adopted, like him?"
"Yes. That's wonderful news, right? You'll be part of noble family." Echo still displayed a blank face as she talked.
Gilbert's eyebrows furrowed. His eyes blazed in anger.
"I wonder, did you know ... that the Nightray house—"
"Was the one who killed your young master's mother?" the raven boy startled at Echo's words. He gritted his teeth. "But I hear there is no proof yet ..."
"Even so, for me to act like I'm betraying the Vessalius house ... at a time like this ..." Gilbert held his chest as if it was going to burst. It throbbed in pain. He looked away from the white-haired girl and turned around. He couldn't bear looking at her. "I may not know what it's like being a servant of another house or whatever— it's unthinkable!"
"Well, that's too bad. What a waste .. and here I am giving such opportunity. If you had the power of the Nightray house, you might be able to save Oz Vessalius."
"Huh?" just when he heard her last sentence, Gilbert turned around again to only found the girl disappear. He was so shock thus he didn't realize the girl already behind him.
"You took the bait, Gilbert-san." The girl spoke too close to his ear, it gave him goosebumps. He screamed in surprise and suddenly jumped back.
"Getting sentimental won't change a thing. Even clinging to uncertain information is merely overlooking the truth. You do want to save your precious master, right?" Echo stated flatly. She asked with no determination to gain an answer. What she was doing just for the boy to accept the adoption by his own free will. "So throw away those emotions. I'll show you how to to use everything and everyone available."
Gilbert felt his heart throbbing. The girl only said it in a matter of fact and she showed no emotion, but there was strong feeling behind those words she said. All of sudden, his wound felt exteremely hurt. He hugged himself as he suffered the pain. Not only his wound that hurt, but his heart as well.
"No need to overdo it." Echo kneeled in front of him. She put aside her umbrella and gave her hands to help him up. "They'll be mad if you get caught running away, so for now I need to bring you home."
"Sto—" Gilbert shook away Echo's hand, but those little hands were much stronger than it looked. The girl forcefully pulled him up, but Gilbert still struggled and tried to push her hands away. Finally, he really pushed her with all he have. "Stop it!"
Echo fell off on the wet land. Her hat fell too, showing her beautiful white hair. But, not too long after, she snapped. She stood up and pointed rudely at the shock boy in front of him.
"Damn you kid! She is just trying to help you! Geez.. really, you are troublesome! Seems like Echo can't handle it." The same girl shouted at the boy. Gilbert surprised at the sudden change of behavior.
"S-sorry..." the young Gilbert stammered at his words.
The girl took her hat and put it back on her head. She smiled with the eyes of asassin. Gilbert trembled all over his body. Her smile grew even wider. She purposely lowered her body down and reached the helpless boy's chin. She lift it up and made him look directly into her eyes.
"Now you unnecessarily wake me up. How should I make you pay for this~?"
"Y-you ... what do you mean.." Gilbert's feeling was between surprised and scared.
"Ah, can't you see that I'm a different person now?" Echo—no, it was Zwei, giggled happily and walked around Gilbert. She then kneeled and catched his head. She held it firmly and grinned at him.
"I think I have taken a liking to you." Zwei tilted her head, still smiling so happily. "Let me tell you. If you have the power of 'raven', you might be able to save your master~"
"I- I- I will do anything! So please ..." Gilbert's eyes stared hopelessly at the girl in front of him. "Can the young master ... really be saved..?"
"Just be a Nightray and obtain 'raven'. I also ... need you to spy the Nightray for me. That way, I can help my neechan~ how about it~~?"
"Even if ... I believe what you say ..."
"You don't really need to believe me~ you should just use me just like I use you now, Gilbert~"
#
SCENE 6 –Gilbert's Training-
Clang. Clang.
Once again, Gilbert lost. The man in front of him laughed insanely and bowed down. "You are worse than Elliot-sama, Gilbert-kun~"
"Quiet! You are the one who is too strong!" Gilbert managed to breath after got beaten for about seventh or eighth times that day. The younger boy laughed as he watching them fighting.
"You are already turned seventeen when your youngest brother turns ten. Yet he is better than you, have you no shame, Gilbert-kun~~?" Break, the sword trainer in Nightray, commented harshly.
"Such a useless~ kekeke~" Emily added.
"Break! No insulting!" suddenly Elliot interrupted. He stood up and talked to his foster-brother. "Maybe you're not into sword, Gilbert. What if you try harder on gun-training? You try that too, right? Just, don't give up!"
The boy smiled brightly at his brother. As usual, he was the only one who approached and welcomed every newbie in Nightray. He didn't even bother what his other brothers said. Why should he stay away from them, from Gilbert and Vincent? They had no harm, especially Gilbert, he was kind.
"Elliot-kun is too kind to him~" Break spinned his sword without slip. "How about you watch Elliot's training again and learn something from it? If you can't, maybe you're really dummy at sword. Hahaha~~"
"Break!" Elliot shouted, warning his skillful trainer.
"Fufufu~ sorry Elliot-kun, it's just so much fun to tease him~" the white-haired man gave a wooden sword to Elliot and smiled. "Now now, it's your turn, Elliot-sama~"
Gilbert watched them in awe. His eyes hardly blinked just because the view in front of him was too fast. As they ended the first round with Break appeared as the winner—of course, Gilbert sighed.
Perhaps sword is really not my thing. I'll try harder with gun then.
"Ouch!" Gilbert rubbed his head which suddenly become a target of Break's hit. The raven looked at Break angrily. "What's that for?"
"Because~~ you are not paying attention, Gilbert-kun~" Break said playfully. He crossed his arms and pouted meaningly at the raven boy. "Do you want to get more hit?"
#
SCENE 7 –Oz back-
"Welcome home, this is your world."
Oz's eyes widened as he realized his surroundings. He also acknowledged the girl who slept soundly next to the white-haired girl who welcomed him, it was Sharon. But he didn't know the other girl. He recalled that he saw the girl too when he first met with Sharon on his coming-of-age ceremony.
"For now, let's have you some clothes." The young girl escort him to a wardrobe and asked him to change clothes that he likes.
"It feels weird.." Oz walked out with new clothes on him.
"I don't think so. That looks great on you." The girl commented. Oz blushed as she talked and said thanks to her. "They fit your image much more than that uniform."
Hearing her, Oz became more aware of her. She's so cute~ uwaaahh~ not as cute as Sharon though. I wonder who is this girl to Sharon..
"Ah, that reminds me, we haven't introduced ourselves yet." The girl bowed to Oz. "I am Sharon-neechan's foster-little sister. My name is Echo Rainsworth."
The blonde boy's heart thumped uncontrollably as he heard the fact. He was jumping in his mind and screamed in happiness. How is this reality could be better? Sharon and Echo are so cute, I can't decided only at one of them!
"By the way," Echo continued talking despite that Oz still in his own imagination world. The girl smirked and her gaze pierced through Oz's heart, pulling him back to reality. "I'm Zwei~ Echo's other half~"
Her playful way of speaking startled Oz. He was in paralyze state for a while, but finally accepted the condition and smiled brightly at her. Zwei happily pulled a chair for the young master of Vessalius.
"Well, for now please take a seat~" Oz sat down and looked at the over-happy girl in front of him danced by herself as she prepared some cakes and tea. "At any rate, that party sure are disaster. I heard the whole story in detail ... from Gilbert-kun~"
"Gil? Then—" Oz's green orbs glistened in shock mixed with glad and relieve.
"Everyone is safe. Your uncle .. and little sister as well." The black-suit man finally talked. He confirmed the situation to the boy. Oz turned to the man with teary eyes. His looks full of relieve that he couldn't express into words. "That servant, too."
"Right~ that's why we are concerned about what happened afterwards." Zwei back with a stray full of cakes and tea. She smiled wickedly as she put a cup of tea in front of Oz. He looked at it hungrily. He drooled over it, and it was only tea. Zwei couldn't help but to laugh at his reaction. "Please tell us about it~"
So, as Oz enjoyed the food on the table, he told them everything that had happened to him inside the abyss and how he could get out of that hell all by himself.
"Well, at any rate what's important is you're safe, Oz-sama." Sharon who finally woke up from her slumber, accompanied him drinking some tea. Her smile was still as sweet as he remembered. "I'm sorry, I absentmindedly fell asleep."
"Yes~ but now, we must ... capture you."
#
SCENE 8 –A Fate Meeting-
"... Philippe West, right?"
Oz surprised at the sudden appearance of the eerie man.
"Ah! You're the one with the bouquet...!" Oz recalled that he was the same man who came to Gilbert's house and left a bouquet there.
The said man smiled and bowed to the two boys in front of him. "Break is a servant of the Nightray house and Emily is at your service, boys~ kekeke~"
Eventhough the voice came from the man, it seemed that he wasn't the one who was talking. Oz and the other boy whose name was Philippe West backed away when they saw the doll on the man's shoulder talked and laughed.
"Bad Emily~! You scared the boys!" Break hit the doll's head, but the doll kept laughing. Eventually, the white-haired man focused back to his prey. "My master, Vincent-sama, has ordered me to come to get that child. Please hand over that child quietly, or else if you try to interfere with my duties ... I will let you play with Emily~ fufufu~"
Still in shock, Oz managed to spoke. "Meeting here again ... could this be ... fate?"
Oz's face paled by the time. What kind of fate is this?
"Huh.. who are you~?"
Break looked down to the only blonde boy there and examined him thoroughly. His red eye stared deeply into the other's green ones as he tried to remember the boy's face. Oz squirmed and frightened when the man's face was close enough to eat his nose. All of sudden, the man strightened up and clicked his fingers.
"Ah~ I remember now." He smiled and pointed at Oz. "You were the hindrance that was sleeping on the floor~"
Oz kneeled, losing his strength and doomed. Why hindrance? Damn this clown man...
"You know? You were on the way when you slept on a place like that. You'd better curl around in the corner and not interfering people's walking~" Oz was pissed of what he said, but before he could say something, the white-haired man continued talking. "Well, just like I said, my target is that child. So, would you please come with me~?"
The man grinned eerily to the younger boy as he slowly sheathed out a blade from the stick that he kept on his side. As the boy saw it, Philippe ran away from him like a scaredy cat.
"Oya~ that's mean. Why did he run?" Break pouted, he asked to no one as he ran to chase after the boy. Apparently, Oz followed him and answered his question.
"Of course people will run if you bring something like that and flash it to them!"
"Well, seems like I have to chase him." Abruptly, the man ran faster, leaving Oz behind.
"Eh.. wait a second!" Oz yelled at him as he ran faster to follow Break.
"Don't follow me, brat~"
"But, I just can't leave it be!"
"Don't you know you're annoying?"
"Wait!" With one push, Oz moved faster and reached Break. He grabbed his arm and pulled him back. "What did that kid do?"
Break turned around and smiled threateningly.
"Do you really want to play with Emily that badly~?" Break pushed the doll to the boy's face. Oz startled and started to freak out. He stepped back, aware of the man's blade too. "Hm, that hat.."
"Oh, I borrowed this from Gil.." Oz talked even before the man asked, due to his fear.
"Are you a friend of Gilbert-kun~?" Break asked curiously. He even took that creepy doll back to his shoulder. Oz suddenly realized something, this man had high awareness of Gilbert.
"It- it's not as simple as that! How should I put this..." Oz mulled things over in his head. He searched for the right word. "I'm .. Gilbert Nightray's master!"
"Master?" it was time that Break got confused. Getting this opportunity, Oz played his role.
"That's right! In other words, he owes me his life. I'm his senior in life, and maybe, I'm someone he can't live without!" Oz laughed nervously to end his claim at Gilbert.
"Really? It's the first time I've heard about it." The old man seemed to think about it. Not too long after, he smirked and bowed deeply to the boy in front of him. "Forgive me for my rudeness before."
"S-so.. please explain things to me!" Oz desperately grabbed Break's arms and forced him to talk.
"Araa~ I almost harm the benefactor of Gilbert-kun. If so, I'll really get punished by Vincent-sama." Break put aside his sword and smiled before he got away from the blonde boy he met. "But this mission has nothing to do with you, little mister. Please excuse me~"
"Wait! I know he's a kid I just met, but .. we talked .. and sympathized .. I thought I couldn't just leave him be.." Oz kept running after the creepy-looking man. He spoke between his short breath of running. "If only I didn't care .. doesn't that mean it does matter to me?"
Break stopped running. He only stopped because the guy behind him chased after him so persistently and he shouted out his frustration over him. He only stopped just because the yell annoyed him. Dark on his face couldn't hide his freak smile after all.
"I'm currently chasing after an illegal contractor who escaped, but.." Break spoke without even turned around to face the one he talked to. His smirk was hidden by the darkness of that night. "I won't mind if you want to come along~"
Break jumped and he already landed safely on a street upright. He looked down at the self-proclaimed Gilbert's master and smirked eerily at him. Well, he looked almost like a villain to grin like that from such an high place.
"But, you may die if you get involved~ not that I care though. fufufufu~"
#
SCENE 9 –Saving Sharon-neechan-
"Vincent Nightray, please return Sharon to me."
A young girl whose hair was purely white spoke bravely to the man who creepily cut every single of black roses in that garden. She walked towards the blonde and put her arm around the man's neck as she smiled widely. Vincent led his hand to creep around the girl's arm on the back of his neck. He turned his face to the girl and replied her smile.
"It's ok~ I didn't kill her. I just want .. something."
"But I don't have anything that interest you on me~" the girl tilted her head, trying to look as innocent as the roses which scattered in a mess on the garden's floor.
"Hehe.. lies~ Miss Echo is a liar~ oh, is it Zwei?" Vincent stood up and leered onto the white-haired girl. He grabbed her hand and rolled the sleeves up. It showed that there was a bell lingering on her hand and it rang beautifully. But Zwei kept grinning to him. "This Alice's memories ... give it to me to exchange your precious oneechan. How does it sound, Zwei-kun~?"
"Ah~ Vincent-san, you're really something, aren't you?" Zwei chuckled. Instead of getting away from him, Zwei moved closer and sticked to the young man. Actually, she liked him alot, but she liked Sharon even more. So, it was hard to choose, but of course Sharon would be priority. Keeping that in her mind, Zwei sweetly talked to Vincent. "I'll give you what you want, so bring me to Sharon."
With that, Vincent led the way to where he kept Sharon. As soon as they arrived at the room, the white-haired girl saw her older sister sat on the floor, breathed heavily, sweated from whatever pain she had. She ran to her and held her tight.
"Sharon-neechan!"
It seemed that she already changed to Echo. Zwei knew it. She knew that she wouldn't be able to save Sharon if she kept thinking about the sadist she liked very much. She must hated him 'cause he hurted her precious person, but at the same time she just couldn't. She liked him .. very very much. That's why she let Echo handled this occasion, so Sharon could be saved. So she didn't lose her mind, left her elder sister, and gave herself in to the bastard she likes.
"In order to achieve agreement with you, I set a time limit." The sadistic man opened the window that led to the balcony. There was seen a man sat on the floor and held his chest as if it hurted so bad. He breathed in agony, just like Sharon did.
"Sorry to make you wait, Break." His soft voice pierced through everyone in the room. Vincent turned around and smiled to the Rainsworth girls inside. "A friend of mine has a hobby of collecting poison. I got a rare poison from him, so I decided to test it out on both of them."
"Why ... even your own servant ..." Echo hardly talked. She shocked to see the display in front of her. She knew the man was cruel, but she never thought that he would do something like that.
"This antidote," Vincent pulled out something that contained liquid inside it and opened it. "If you don't know that it's effective, you most probably won't listen to me."
Slowly, Vincent cupped Break's chin and lifted it up. In his state, Break couldn't possibly oppose his master doing. He might always keep his guard whenever he was with the sick-heterochrome eyed man, but he totally never expected to be poisoned by his own master. Due to the poison, he was powerless and helpless. He embarassed of himself that he could be deceived that easy. He wouldn't ever trusted him again, never ever again.
Vincent put the antidote into his own mouth, then he lowered himself and closed the gap between him and his personal servant. He passed the antidote to Break mouth-to-mouth. Echo watched with sickness in the pit of her stomach. He waited for some time with lips still locked the other man's lips so it was sure that the liquid passed through his throat. Eventually, Vincent pulled away and left the man squirmed on the floor, gaining his sane once more. He coughed a bit. Slowly, his breath became steady and he managed to feel his body.
"Now that we've confirmed the lady's safety. Let's start to trade~" However, Vincent didn't merely gave the antidote over, he held it and put it on the way out of the balcony as if he wanted to throw it away. "At last, the princess is is in the arms of her knight, but her life is still in the hands of the creator of darkness!"
Echo trembled slightly to think what if he really threw away the antidote. Her elder sister was still there in her arms, but she could feel that she slowly lost of breath. Echo might not look like it, but she was definitely angry.
"So Miss Hatter, are you willing to listen to my request..?" the sick-in-mind Nightray smiled devilishly at the Rainsworth girls and glanced at Break. "Things that happened 100 years ago .. it's better off without anyone knowing it ... there is nothing to know about!"
Echo felt tremendous dark feeling from the man. Break too, he also looked at his master and couldn't say a thing. He never saw his master show much of expression except the fake smile he gradually became used to and learned of.
"Ne, Miss Hatter~ I said I want the bell, but it doesn't mean I want to get it." Vincent looked even scarier than he usually did. "I want to destroy it. So, destroy it please? Right in front of my eyes.."
Break's only eye widened in horror. He knew everything, so he thought that perhaps he could lay his hand on that thing once everything had settled down, but he was wrong. Vincent had planned it all along. How could he never acknowwledged it? That rat still has no trust in me. Break couldn't do a thing as the hatter crushed it easily. He looked at them in agony. Well, she must save her older sister after all, she must love her very much. And that Sharon is ... kinda get on my nerve. I felt a huge urge to protect her, for I don't even know what reason ...
"Then, hand over the antidote!" Echo stood up and gave her hand. She desperately wanted it.
"You really are a good person, Miss Hatter." Vincent curved a smile. He didn't even try to hide that devil-like smile on his face. "That's why ... I like you the most."
As he said the last words, he opened his grip on the antidote and let it fall. Echo's pupil's dilated in anger. She felt her chest pained so much. Inside, she was very very angry to the attitude that Vincent showed to her, but she—or Zwei for exact—couldn't help feeling happy as Vincent said that he likes her the most. She became more and more upset to herself for the stupid feeling. Because of it, she couldn't run to get the antidote. Not to mention that the distance was quite far, but it was her fault too for having a feeling towards the sicko bastard. Her mind was going to explode as the thought of 'cannot saving her precious person' came to mind. NO!
She knew that it was too late even if she ran after it, but it was not like she have any choice. In that one second of time, they felt like it was forever. Echo felt like time was stopping as she saw that a manservant of Vincent quickly grab a hold of the antidote before it fell down. Both Vincent and Echo surprised at the sudden, unexpected event. Seeing such an unobedient behavior of Break, Vincent snapped. He almost slapped the man on his cheek, but Echo pulled him back, saving the man—and the antidote as well.
"Well, well, Vincent-san~ if you make those eyes, you look exactly the same as your brother~" Echo swiftly changed with Zwei, she exhausted, she couldn't bear the thought anymore. The antidote was already on her hand, so Zwei could've handled it, that was what Echo think that time.
"That's it .. I'm tired .. Your job is done here. Get out of my face." Vincent harshly asked the girls out of the room. Eventhough she was treated that badly, Zwei still had feelings for him. Maybe that was because Zwei was so twisted, she likes that kind of man. In the end, she managed to save her elder sister, so it was fine.
Meanwhile, Vincent looked at the white-haired man on his feet. He kneeled over his master due to losing his strength. He was still recuperating from the poison earlier.
"What an unobedient act you pull, Break.." Vincent pushed him with his feet. Break stared at him with helpless look. Vincent's expression hadn't changed. That was his true feeling. He was mad, which only meant .. he would do a bad things, not only to dolls, but to people as well. And the only people there was ...
Break.
"I wonder how I should punish you for this matter, Break ..."
#
SCENE 10 –Don't Hide Yourself, We're Family-
"Break-san..?"
Oz called out the man's name in usual tone. The man startled as he peeked on the tea party in Pandora. He didn't mean anything, he just ... passed by. He turned around and waved happily at the Vessalius boy. The boy replied with a smile.
"It is you, Break!" Oz put aside his tea cup to Gilbert and ran towards the old-white-haired man. Gilbert saw him too, but he didn't fancy to meet him there, he knitted his brows. "We haven't met since the St. Bridget's day. I wonder if something happen.. you were disappeared all of sudden.. I was worried—"
"Your worried and gentle attitude makes me want to vomit, Oz-kun~" Break waved his hand and smiled cheerfully.
"It's disgusting, kiddo~!" the doll on Break's shoulder commented harshly as usual. Oz already used to it, so he just smiled.
"So, something happened?" Oz repeated his question before.
He was quite attached to the man since the St. Bridget's day. They were usually in the same wavelength to something, though it seemed that the man had alotof secrets that he hid under his creepy smile and cheerful, happy-like attitude. Break took a glance on the girl whose hair as white as his and saw her smiling. He smiled back, but his eye didn't smile at all. Oz still expected an answer from him, he kept staring at him for a while.
"Ah~~ I just came to see what was going on. I should go back now. See ya Oz-kun~~" Break focused his smile back to Oz and about to walk away, but Oz grabbed his hand.
"Come on join the party~!" Oz happily pulled Break with him before he could put a denial act. "The more the merrier! Besides, it must be fun to have a cup of tea with you and everyone!"
It wasn't that Break had no strength to pulled back, he was entranced by Oz's words. He usually would attack Oz with insults, but this time, he didn't feel like it. He was brought around by Oz and Gilbert, and as well Alice. He never felt like this before. Not even when he was with Elliot or Gilbert. His heart felt so light.
In the meantime, Break also looked around and found alotof people there. He always glanced secretly at the young lady of Rainsworth family. That Sharon Rainsworth. She seemed so cheerful, playing with her little sister and a tall man with glasses. He could feel honesty around him. It felt great. He could tease Gilbert with Oz, had a cup of tea with the Sharon he adore, laughed honestly with the old-man called Oscar, and also there was Elliot whom he always grateful for his existence in the Nightray. He felt like he was back with his former family he served before. The Sinclair family. He felt like ... he was back at home. He felt so warm around those people, he couldn't help feeling delight.
"Come, Break! We're taking photo!" Oz called out.
Break just smiled and waved at him. he felt a bit .. sad. He knew that this won't last long. He knew that he shouldn't be there. He knew that he can't escape from Vincent's hand. He knew it was impossible to pursue The Will of Abyss' wish. But, he fought. He tried his best to live and kept his promise to pursue The Will of Abyss' wish. He couldn't fail her. He lived by and for himself only, but this sudden change, this blissful event with everyone he felt warm, brought back the happiness of living. Even if he knew that his life isn't valuable at all, 'cause Vincent could break him anytime. He smiled bitterly.
"Break! What's wrong? Come on." Oz looked upright into his red orb. He tilted his head and grabbed Break's hand. "You're coming, right? We're taking photo."
"Oz-kun~" Break patted on the boy's head. He wasn't like his usual self that day, really. When he thought that, his smile grew wider and ruffled the blonde's hair even more.
"Ow! Stop that, Break! What's with you? Weirdo." Oz rubbed his head which Break put his effort to ruffle on it. He pouted but still insisted taking photo with Break. "Come on! Oscar-jisan said 'everyone'."
Break grinned and bowed. "Sorry Oz-sama, but I'm merely a servant~"
"It doesn't matter to me!" Oz crossed his arms and looked straight to the man's eye. Break's eye widened in awe. Such a strong gaze .. yet gentle. "Don't hide yourself! We're family, right?"
Break bursted out laugh. Family? No one ever told him that. Not even the slightest idea of 'family' ever came to break's mind, but suddenly the boy he never think of cute told him about being a family. His stomach felt really funny, but his heart felt so warm. He rubbed his teary-eye because of too much laughing and finally gained control again of himself. He followed the blonde boy with cheerful green eyes of him onto the front of the camera. He was surrounded by people with lights. It felt really warm.
Well, it feels like family. Break thought to himself in that dream-like moment.
#
#
Me: *punches Bara*
Bara: ouch! Wha— Hime? Why are you here?
Me: daaaaaaamn... I put all of my effort to writing this and you just took it and posted it all you like! At least let me comment, you damn Bara ... *threatening aura*
Bara: s-sorry, I'm really really sorry! *bows 100 times* I thought that you're still..
Me: well, yeah.. but this is .. y'know, it's PH! I just can't leave it be!
Bara: are you sure..?
Me: uhm.. yeah.. it's just, I hardly touch internet because my father has wokr piles up and.. well, there are any other reasons i can't tell..
Bara: well then, I leave the comment to you
Me: okaay~~ *back to herself*
How are you minna~? I felt like crying when I finished this chapter. This is the longest chapter I ever wrote! *sobs* it's so touching QwQ (it's twenty pages on my lappy! XD)
I bet you must noticed that I took most of the scenes from PH's mange of course. So just want to tell you:
Scene 5 from retrace XIII
Scene 7 from retrace IV
Scene 8 from retrace XI
Scene 9 from retrace XXIII
Scene 10 from retrace XLVII
And the rest I just made it up, haha. So sorry if it didn't match your taste. *bows* and I just can't separate Zwei from Vincent and Break from Sharon! really ... those two couples are just ... cute (in their own way, tehehe~)
Actually, there are alotof things I want to say, but ... everything seems like in a mess when I read retrace LXV *doomed*
Have you read it? Oh my God! It's such disaster for my mind! Seems like all my screws were off and world turns upside down! I even feel like not wanting to continue this fanfic anymore .. 'cause it hurts to write PH things. But a friend told me not to. She said that perhaps I could bring more and more relieve if I write something about Jack and.. really I don't want to think that he's a villain (just like I felt brokenheart when rufus was confirmed that he's with baskerville.. even laying a blow to cheryl-sama! Ugh...)
Well, let's say that newest retrace of PH took away half of my desire to life, haha (really I mean it..)
Well, what am I saying again? Umm.. oh! Actually I drew Echo on the scene 5 when she was imitating Break. I remember that Revya-san really wanted to see her in such outfit, right? I don't even know myself. Eh, what am I saying again? *scratches head*
Bara: I think you should rest, Hitsu-sama..
Me: um, right.. well then reader, thanks to read this long chappy *cries in happiness*
And if you want to see 'that' Echo, please visit my profile :) I use it as my pic, hehe~ (but I haven't colored it yet #orz)
see you next chapter~~! *waves hands*