Me: *takes almost two months to update because I suck*
Tsukito slowly opened his eyes. The morning sun was practically blinding him.
He hated it.
He didn't have to look around to figure out where he was. The strong chemical smell in the air was nauseating to him.
That image of last night was still fresh on his mind, but he couldn't remember much after that.
"What did I tell you, Imbecile?" A familiar voice chided him. Tsukito glanced over to his right, seeing the Egyptian god seated at his bedside with a pile of books.
"What happened?"
"According to the Bimbo, you just walked into the Norse gods dormitory and started hacking up flowers all over the floor and then passed out." Thoth explained, "What were you even doing there anyway?"
The nausea in Tsukito's stomach worsened as the events of last night came back to him, "I...I had to get away."
"Get away from what?"
"Apollon Agana Belea and Kusanagi Yui...last night, they were…" Tsukito choked back his words, unable to get them out. He gripped the sheets so tightly, his knuckles turned white.
Fortunately, Tsukito didn't have to finish explaining as Thoth figured it out quickly. "You saw them?"
Tsukito can only respond with a nod.
"It must've acted up like that because that because you were under so much distress after seeing that."
The creaking of the doors caught Tsukito's attention. Takeru stood at the doorway, with the Norse gods, Hades, and Dionysus in tow.
"...Did you tell them?"
"I had to. You made them all worry." Thoth said, "You were going to tell them anyway, so why are you making a fuss?"
The Egyptian god stood up from his chair and makes his way towards the door, "Are you going to come in or not? You're all in my way."
Takeru makes a move first. He runs past Thoth and right to his brother's bedside. "Holy shit, Anii, are you okay?!" He has Tsukito's shoulders in an iron grip, shaking him vigorously like a ragdoll.
"Takeru, he won't be if you keep shaking him like that." Hades said.
The sea god stops immediately, "Sorry."
"You gave us quite a scare, Totsuka-san." Balder said, "Even Loki almost cried."
"I did not!" Loki huffs and crosses his arms, "Okay, fine I did a little."
"I apologize for worrying you all."
"Really Tsukito, you should've told us a long time ago." Hades gently chides the moon god.
Suddenly, the door burst open, startling everyone in the room, "Tsuki-Tsuki!"
All the air in Tsukito's lungs was knocked out of him as he found himself being tackled by a much heavier body. Tsukito's nausea worsened even more at the mere touch from the sun god. It sickened him that he's being touched by the same hands that touched her last night.
"Tsuki-Tsuki, are you alright?! Are you? We heard about what happened to you last night."
Tsukito could barely utter any words as Apollon's arms were constricting the life out of him. Yui finally pried Apollon off him, much to his relief, "Apollon-san, give him some space. He's still recovering."
"But I was so worried!"
Tsukito grit his teeth as he stared up at the couple. He wished they would go away. Fortunately, Takeru seemed to pick up on that almost immediately.
"Hey, I think he needs some time alone, guys, Anii's still very disoriented, right?"
Tsukito nodded, silently thanking his brother for the excuse, "Yes...I think I could use some peace and quiet at this time. I apologize."
"It's okay, Tsukito-san, take all the time you need." Yui replied, smiling gently.
The other gods begin to make their way to class. Takeru stays behind a moment longer to make absolutely sure his brother would be fine without him, then heads to class with the others.
"Take-Take!"
Takeru stops and turns, his expression turning sour as he was faced with the two that got his brother into this mess in the first place. "What the hell do you want?"
Apollon and Yui seemed taken aback at the sudden hostility, but still, Yui spoke up. "If you don't mind us asking, what exactly is wrong with Tsukito-san?"
"You seriously don't know?"
"Thoth-sensei told us Tsuki-Tsuki was sick, but not what he was sick with."
Takeru let out an exasperated sigh. The Egyptian god conveniently left out the most important details and now he's the one that has to explain it. What a pain.
"It's something called Hanahaki Disease...I think. Basically he loves someone who doesn't love him back and he's coughing up flowers all over the damn place because of it."
"Such a thing exists?" Yui asked, eyes widened in shock.
Takeru gestures to the doors of the infirmary, "Apparently yes."
"Oh no, who could do such a thing to Tsuki-Tsuki? How could they not see what an amazing person he is?" Apollon asked.
The sea god sucked in a breath, trying so desperately to keep his composure. Oh, the irony was too much. "Yeah, I know. It really sucks for him doesn't it?" He says in the most sarcastic tone he could muster.
Like the idiot he is, Apollon did not pick up on it. "Whoever this person is, I'll find them and I'll kick their butt myself!"
Without missing a beat, Takeru replies, "What, you'll kick your own ass, then?"
Apollon's eyes widened in shock, "W-what? What does this have to do with me?" He asked.
"Oh, I don't know. Anii has a disease caused by unrequited love and I'm saying it's your fault. It's not that hard to piece two and two together, you dense motherfucker!"
With this, Takeru decides he's had enough of this idiot sun god and storms off to class.
Apollon and Yui stood in the hall, letting this realization sink in. The reason Tsukito was ill in the first place...was that he was in love with Apollon. The couple glanced at each other, opening their mouths but ended up not knowing what to say. They didn't know how to go about this new development. Do they go confront Tsukito directly? Or do they keep quiet and let Tsukito tell them out of his own volition?
"Hey, are you two going to attend class or not?"
The two looked up to see Thoth walking past them, on his way to class to teach.
"Thoth-sensei!" Apollon calls out before he could get too far.
Thoth stops and turns toward the sun god with an icy glare, "What is it, Idiot?"
"About Tsuki-Tsuki...uhm...with his illness, will be okay? Will he?" Apollon asked, "It'll go away, right?"
"If he doesn't treat it, he'll suffocate and die." Thoth replies bluntly.
The sun god sucked in a breath as his blood ran cold. "I...I can just heal him. I can heal him, right?"
The Egyptian god shook his head, "Sorry, but this is beyond what you can fix, even with your abilities."
"Then what can we do to help him?"
"Well, he has two options: one, to have his feelings returned which I highly doubt will happen anytime soon." Thoth said, glaring down as Apollon and Yui, "And two: I can ask Zeus to bring in Sekhmet or Isis so that they can surgically remove the infection, but…"
"But?"
"If he were to go through the surgery, he might not remember you afterwards. Or he won't even be able to feel emotion ever again."
"That's...that's awful." Yui said.
"Listen, I can only provide him the answers he needed and the options he has. I cannot do anything else to help him." Thoth said, "The decision rests with him...and by extension, you two."
"Us?" Apollon asked.
"You may choose to end your relationship here and reciprocate his feelings or leave him to his own devices."
"I've told you all I can. Now get to class." Thoth said before continuing on his way.
"So this Hanahaki Disease is brought on by unrequited love and is terminal unless the flowers are surgically removed or that the love is requited….but Tsukito-san refuses to get the surgery as it would remove his feelings as well." Yui said, "It would make sense since he would most likely regress to the way he was when he first came here. But the only other option is to have those feelings requited..." She pauses, "Maybe if..."
"Fairy, where are you going with this?" Apollon asked. His eyes widened as he slowly began to realize what his girlfriend could be suggesting, "No, no! I can't do that! You know I love you and only you."
"I know you do, Apollon-san. I really don't want to let you do this, but if there is a slim chance it'll save Tsukito-san, then I'll...I'll..." Her voice cracks before she could finish her sentence. After a moment of trying to hold back tears, she takes a deep breath so that she could finish her thought, "I'll allow it."
Apollon shook his head, "No...no! I won't do it! I definitely won't do it!"
"Look, I'm not going to force you. It's your decision in the end, but if you choose to go that route, I just want you to know that...you have my permission." Yui said, "It's just...this isn't fair! Why Tsukito-san? This whole time, he worked so hard to learn about the human heart...and he finally learned how to feel love...and this is what he gets?"
Apollon felt so utterly helpless as he watched his love break down in tears. He pulled her into his arms and gently stroked her hair. "We'll figure something out. We're not going to let Tsuki-Tsuki die like this."
But such an empty promise did nothing to alleviate the ache in his heart.
Tsukito was released from the infirmary a few days later and he attended class like nothing was wrong. He still interacted with the other gods as usual. The friendly atmosphere between them hasn't changed. But still, something seemed different. Lately, Tsukito seemed to notice the occasional concerned glances from his classmates. He knew they meant well, but their pity made him feel worse.
It was after a student council meeting where Apollon had witnessed Tsukito's suffering firsthand. The moon god had volunteered to clean up afterwards but he ended staying well into the evening. Worried, Apollon went back to check on him only to find him in the middle of a violent coughing fit. Tsukito was clutching his stomach as blood and flowers splattered all over the floor. The sight was absolutely horrifying...and it was all because of him. Tsukito was suffering because of him.
That reality hit Apollon like a bus and it was then he finally decided: as a friend, he was going to take responsibility. He really didn't like the sound of it, but if it was for Tsukito's sake, he will do it. At the very least, he had Yui's trust, so that eased a small bit of doubt in his mind.
One night, Apollon crept out of bed. He picked his clothes off the floor and slips them back on, trying to make as little noise as possible.
He hears a quiet groan accompanied by the bed creaking as Yui stirred. The girl slowly opened her eyes, blinking sleepily "Apollon-san, where are you going?"
"I..." Apollon pauses for a moment before he let out a sigh, "I'm going to pay Tsuki-Tsuki a visit."
Yui cast her eyes downward, smiling bitterly. "I see."
"Don't worry. No matter what happens, I'll always love you." Apollon leaned over to plant a kiss on Yui's forehead. "I know you care a lot about Tsuki-Tsuki. I do too. That's why we're trying to help him, right?"
Yui nods, her eyes still not meeting Apollon's, "Yeah." She turns toward the door just as Apollon was leaving, "Uhm...good luck."
The sun god turns his head to gaze at her one more, a gentle smile gracing his features. But despite that, Yui could see the reluctance in his eyes. The inner conflict between being faithful to his girlfriend or saving his friend's life.
But with something like this, they felt they had no choice but to put their own feelings aside. Their dear friend's life was on the line, after all.
Usamaro watches intently as Tsukito reached into a small paper bag and pulled out a treat. Tsukito lets Usamaro sniff it for a moment before throwing it across the room, watching his familiar skitter around for it.
He may have recovered enough to be released from the infirmary, but Takeru still banned him from carrying out his duties, in the event he becomes violently ill at any given moment. With that, it left him with nothing to do during the night other than watch Usamaro chase after treats.
Suddenly, he hears a knock on his door. When he goes to open it, he is greeted by the sun god's bright beaming smile.
"Hey, Tsuki-Tsuki!"
"Apollon Agana Belea, what are you doing here? It's late."
"Oh, you know, I just wanted to drop by." Apollon replied rather nonchalantly, "Can I come in? Can I?"
"...I suppose."
Apollon follows the moon god inside, neither of them exchanging words. Tsukito gestures to the table, inviting Apollon to sit down before he went into the kitchen to make tea.
Apollon absentmindedly drummed his fingers against the table. He was so intensely focused on the sound of the kettle screeching, but it did not help the numerous thoughts running through his head. Did he really want to do this? He could change his mind right here and leave. But despite those thoughts, Apollon stayed glued to his seat as Tsukito brought in the tea.
"Take-Take isn't here?" Apollon asked, hoping a conversation would make the mood less excruciatingly awkward.
"He went out stargazing with Hades Aidoneus." Tsukito stated simply as he poured tea for Apollon and himself.
"Oh, I see." Apollon laughs nervously, tightly clasping his sweaty palms together, "Uhm...How about you? How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine."
"No, I mean your illness. I'm talking about your illness." Apollon said.
Tsukito shrugs indifferently, "It comes and goes, I guess."
"Is it...is it because of me?"
Tsukito paused, mildly shocked at the question, "What do you mean?"
"Take-Take told me. You have this illness...because of me." Apollon asked, "If it comes from a one-sided love, then..."
Tsukito stared down his reflection in the teacup and absentmindedly tapped his fingers along the sides. The tension in the air seemed the grow thicker with every moment of silence. He's made it this far opening up to Apollon about his illness, there's no point in hiding this anymore. He let out a deep breath and finally answered, "Yes."
"Since when?"
"Since you got together with Kusanagi Yui. Maybe a little while before that? I'm not too sure." Tsukito replied, "Do not misunderstand me, though, I have no intention of interfering with your relationship."
"Even though there's a possibility you might die?"
Tsukito's lips tightened into a thin line. His eyes darted around the room as he tried to come up with an answer, but then eventually decided that his feelings were too complex to describe with simple words. "So, did you need me for something? Surely, you came for a reason."
Apollon suddenly shot up from his seat, just now remembering what he came for. "Tsuki-Tsuki. Come with me."
He pulled the moon god by the wrist and took him upstairs to his bedroom, shutting them both inside.
"It's convenient that Take-Take isn't here…" Apollon said as he began unbuttoning his shirt, "Tsuki-Tsuki, I have an offer to make."
"What is it?"
The sun god hesitates for a moment before taking a deep breath, "...Myself. I would like to offer myself to you."
"What do you mean?"
"Tsuki-Tsuki, have sex with me." Apollon said bluntly.
The moon god was taken aback by Apollon's words, he wasn't sure if he heard them right, "E-excuse me?"
"Your illness...it'll be cured when the love is requited, right? So maybe...if we do this, you'll get better."
Tsukito shook his head, "Wait no, you should do that with someone you love."
Apollon steps closer to Tsukito until he had backed him up against a wall, "You love me don't you? Don't you?"
"Yes, but you love Kusanagi Yui." Tsukito said, "We can't hurt her like this."
"It's okay. She...she gave me permission. And I've had experience with men before, so I know what I'm doing."
"But we don't know if this is going to work."
"We won't know unless we try." Apollon said. He grabbed Tsukito by the shoulders and pinned him to the wall. Tsukito found himself unable to look away from the sun god's gaze. He was trapped in pleading, desperate look in those brilliant green eyes. "Please, Tsuki-Tsuki...just let me do this for you. You're okay if I do this for you, right?"
This was wrong. He really shouldn't be doing this. His mind kept screaming to not do this. Think about Yui. Think about how awful she must feel to have to give the love of her life to someone else, even if it was temporary.
Yet, the word "Yes." fell from his lips.
Everything happened so fast, Tsukito couldn't keep up. Next thing he knew, Apollon was half-naked on top of him, ripping a condom packet open with his teeth.
In the end, Tsukito let his desires suppress any remaining doubts he had in the back of his mind. This is what he wanted right? The object of his affections was right here, offering the comfort that he so desperately needed. Tsukito wanted to be loved. Needed to be loved.
That's why he was here now, naked and bare before Apollon. That's why he was submitting to the sun god's gentle touch for the night. Why Tsukito was chanting Apollon's name over and over while drowning in the ecstasy of feeling the sun god thrusting inside of him. He should allow himself this happiness, even if it was only for a night. For a night, he could pretend Apollon loved him. Pretend Apollon was his and not Yui's.
Now that the girl crossed his mind, he then started to realize: there was a small part of him, a very small part, that wanted to indulge out of petty spite.
He was...truly a selfish and despicable being, wasn't he?
Apollon was gone by the next morning.
Tsukito later found him in the halls on the way to class. With Yui, unsurprisingly. Apollon locked eyes with the moon god for just a brief moment, before turning his attention back to Yui.
Tsukito thought this would be a one time thing. Nothing more than a fleeting memory.
It wasn't until Apollon came to his dorm again to check up on him. When he realized Tsukito's symptoms weren't improving, he decided just once wasn't enough. Tsukito didn't know how things escalated so quickly, but they did. It was starting to become their routine. Apollon beds him for the night and then he'd belong to Yui in the morning.
Despite knowing full well that this was only going to be a temporary arrangement, Tsukito found himself yearning for more. He wasn't supposed to be, but he was. He wanted more of Apollon's touch, his voice, his scent, his everything. But he could only have those things in his fantasies, for the nights Apollon spent with Yui.
Oddly enough, there hadn't been any flowers for several days, much to Apollon's joy.
Tsukito wanted to think it was because Apollon truly was concerned for him and wanted to help, but the nagging anxiety in the back of his mind was starting to convince him that it was only because he could go straight back to Yui and toss Tsukito aside like a forgotten memory.
That's right, Apollon's world revolved around Yui. Tsukito meant nothing to him.
Even when the sun god says he doesn't mind helping him, Tsukito could see the shame and guilt in his eyes. It made Tsukito's own doubts even worse. He was ruining Apollon's perfect relationship with Yui. It was his fault for making Apollon feel like he had to take responsibility for his illness.
Yet, Tsukito couldn't bring himself to end things here. Not yet.
Yes, he wanted to be selfish for a little while longer.
Apollon woke up in the middle of the night. Usually he'd return to his own dorm immediately after sex, but this time around it seemed he ended up falling asleep with Tsukito.
He glanced over at the moon god, who was curled up next to him, peacefully asleep. Apollon couldn't help but be mesmerized by Tsukito's serene expression as he slept, his soft skin as pale as the moon itself, and the way his silky lavender hair seemed to frame his face perfectly,
The sight was just so beautiful, Apollon found himself leaning over towards Tsukito. His mind blanked out for a moment and his body seemed to move on his own. When he came to his senses, he realized he now had his face so dangerously close to Tsukito's. Any more and their lips would touch.
Then Apollon pulled away. What was he thinking? That wasn't Yui.
Yet, he couldn't stop thinking about all those nights with Tsukito. He had come to find out that...he didn't actually dislike it. And that's what terrified him.
The sun god gazed upon Tsukito's face for a little while longer, resolving to nip whatever he was feeling right at the bud. Tsukito was starting to get better and Apollon can soon go back to his loving, happy relationship with Yui and forget any of this ever happened. It would be bad if he got too attached now.
Apollon turned and faced the other way before dozing back to sleep.
He was awoken again in the morning, greeted with the sound to coughing and choking. Tsukito's hands were clamped against his mouth, desperately trying to contain whatever was coming out. Blood slipped through Tsukito's fingers, dripping down his arms and onto the white sheets. Apollon rubs Tsukito's back, hoping it'll help force everything out quicker.
Apollon's eyes widened in horror when he saw the long, thin needles mixed in with Tsukito's blood, "Are those...pine needles?"
He felt his stomach twist into knots. He went and slept with his friend and it was all for nothing. Nothing.
Black pine - Pity
After Tsukito had gotten cleaned up, they both picked their clothes off the floor and silently got dressed for school. The tension in the air was so uncomfortable, but neither of them could bring themselves to say anything.
Unable to bear the thick tension any longer, Apollon finally decides to break the silence, "Tsuki-Tsuki...let's stop this."
"What?"
"I really want to help you, I really do. I thought I'd be fine with doing this, but..." Apollon avoids Tsukito's gaze, "I love Fairy. I can't keep doing this to her."
Tsukito saw this coming...yet it was still painful hearing it from Apollon himself. He cast his eyes downward, "I know." He answered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Apollon let out a sigh, "Tsuki-Tsuki...just get the surgery. You'll find someone who you can love someday and they'll love you just as much."
"No!" Tsukito snaps, his voice echoing throughout the room, "I'll stop loving if I do that! I'll stop feeling anything!"
Apollon flinched at the moon god's outburst. Considering his usual calm demeanor, this was totally unexpected of him. And he didn't know how to handle it. "Tsuki-Tsuki, you don't know that."
"Yes, I do." Tsukito argued, "I learned how to feel emotions. I felt envy, anger, sadness, and joy...because I loved you. If I lose that, then what else do I have?"
"Tsuki-Tsuki, please be reasonable. I just want you to be okay." Apollon's hands reached over to hold Tsukito by the shoulders.
Tsukito jumps at Apollon's touch and reacts by shoving him away, "Don't touch me!"
The sun god stared at him wide-eyed and dumbfounded, "Tsuki-Tsuki…?"
"You wanted to leave, right? Just leave!" Tsukito screams. "I should've never agreed to this in the first place."
Apollon's heart just about cracked. He expected some resistance, maybe some begging, but the moon god was actively putting distance between them. Apollon's eyes briefly met Tsukito's and he quickly realized: his eyes conveyed something completely different than what he said. He could read the desperation and heartbreak in those honey-golden eyes. Tsukito was in fact pleading him to stay in the most subtle way possible.
But Apollon chose to ignore it. He chose to leave and never look back.
Tsukito was probably going to be late for class, but right at this moment, time seemed like an illusion to him. All he saw was white. All he heard was deafening silence. He just felt...numb.
He didn't even notice he was coughing up a bouquet of large, pale purple flowers until he realized that they were hanging out of his mouth, scabiosas if he's not mistaken. The long, thin stems were still stuck in his throat.
He grabbed the bunch of flowers by the stems and pulled the rest of them out, wincing slightly as he felt the long stems in his throat slither inside. And even with this he didn't feel any pain.
He dropped the flowers onto the floor, continuing to gag on blood and saliva. Even when he thought it was all over, he found it significantly more difficult to breathe afterwards. He felt a dull pressure in his chest, like something was constricting him from the inside. He clutched his chest, hoping it would somehow alleviate it, but instead he felt something there. Something hard.
Fearing the worst, he jumped up and rushed over to the bathroom. His fingers fumbled with the buttons as he tried undoing them with shaky hands. His eyes widened in horror when he opened his shirt to expose his bare chest. He wanted to scream, but no sound would escape his throat. All he could do is stare at the mirror, absolutely petrified.
It looked like vines of some sort that were bulging out from under his skin. They spread out from the middle of his chest, creeping across his ribcage, his shoulders, and even up his neck.
Tsukito traced a finger along these strange vines over and over, they felt hard under his skin and were extremely painful when he does so much as gently press on them.
In the end, Tsukito had no one to blame but himself. It was his own fault for developing feelings for Apollon. It was his own fault for letting the disease progress this far.
He refused the treatment only because he was foolishly clinging to the small hope that the sun god would maybe...just maybe...would feel the same way for him. That he'd leave Yui on his own accord. But in the end, that was all wishful thinking. Apollon had chosen Yui. No matter what, he would always choose Yui in the end. Right now, Apollon would probably be with her, relishing in her love and devotion, pretending all those nights with Tsukito never happened and everything was fine. Like he could easily forget about Tsukito and move on.
Tsukito curled up under the blankets later that night, tightly clutching Usamaro close to his chest. He has lost all hope of ever curing his illness, but he didn't care. He stopped caring a long time ago.
Scabiosa - unfortunate love
Takeru stood outside his brother's room, listening to the quiet sobs coming from behind the door. And he was absolutely fuming with rage. He had heard it. He had heard all of it.
He waited until the next day to confront the sun god.
They inevitably ran into Apollon on the way to class, but he seemed to ignore them. He didn't even notice Tsukito, too caught up in Yui to even acknowledge him. He laughed and joked with her, acting as if nothing was wrong. Like Tsukito wasn't worth his attention. This only fueled the sea god's fury further.
So Takeru waited until the end of class, knowing his older brother would immediately hold him back if he tried to start anything.
Yui immediately approaches Apollon like she always does after class was over, "Apollon-san, can we-"
Takeu suddenly jumps in, grabbing Apollon by the arm, "Sorry, he has something to do with me today." He said with a fabricated smile.
"Oh, is that so?" Yui asked, a quizzical look gracing her features.
Apollon raised an eyebrow, "Do I? I would think I would remember something like that."
"Come on, Apollon, you promised me." Takeru said, gripping Apollon's arm tighter, "I'll give him back to you later, don't worry."
Yui just smiled, "It's alright. Take your time."
Despite the sun god's protests, Takeru dragged him all the way to rhe emptiest hallway he could find.
"Did you need something, Take-Take?"
"So...you've been fucking my brother?" The sea god questioned out of the blue.
The sun god's face paled, "I...how did you know?"
Takeru rolled his eyes, "I live in the same fucking dorm, Asswipe. The walls aren't that fucking thick."
"I...I thought it might cure him. It'll go away once the love is returned, right?" Apollon said, "But why didn't it work?!"
"I don't know, Apollon, did you love him?" Takeru asked.
"I mean...I do. But not in that way. I only feel that way for Fairy."
Takeru stared blankly at the sun god for a few moments as if letting those words sink in. Next thing Apollon knew, he was being slammed against the wall.
"Son of a bitch!" Takeru screams in his face, pinning Apollon to the wall by the collar. "Did you honestly think you could just pity fuck my brother a few times and hope he'll be cured just so you can immediately run straight back to the Weed?"
"I...I didn't want him to die...what else was I supposed to do?"
"And yet you basically left him for dead anyway as soon you figured out you needed to actually love him to cure him. Did you even once considered his feelings at all?"
"I tried, Take-Take, I really tried. But my heart belongs to Fairy. How can I say I love her to her face when I'm sleeping with another man at the same time?"
"What? I thought that kind of thing was normal for you Greek gods." Takeru scoffs in response, "Did you not want him to die because you actually cared about him? Or is it because you knew it's going to be on you if he dies so you wanted to comfort your own conscience?"
"I…." The sun god found himself unable to answer.
"Had I not been deprived of my divine powers, I would've slaughtered you. Make no mistake about that."
"Totsuka Takeru, that's enough."
Tsukito put a hand on Takeru's shoulder, gently urging him away.
"But, Anii…!"
"This doesn't concern you. Just let it go." Tsukito chides him sternly.
Takeru reluctantly relaxes his grip on Apollon's collar. He glares him down, making himself look as intimidating as possible, "This isn't over."
Tsukito doesn't spare Apollon even a brief glance and went on his way. Apollon could feel his heart ache a little. He knows he was the one who decided to break things off, but he couldn't help but feel awful seeing Tsukito so saddened by it to the point of refusing to look at him. Takeru was right, he was only thinking about himself, not once taking Tsukito's feelings into consideration.
A part of Apollon wanted to apologize, make it up to Tsukito, plead for his friendship back. But the damage has been done. Apollon made this decision and he has to deal with the consequences.
The sound of collected gasps and screams were heard right around the corner.
Apollon quickly made his way towards the source of the noise and turned his attention to the gathering crowd in the middle of the hall. Tsukito had fallen onto the floor, his body convulsing violently as blood and petals leaked in slow pulses out of his mouth.
"Anii!" Takeru rushed over in a panic, cradling his brother's body.
"Tsuki-Tsuki!" Apollon reached out a hand to offer his help, but Takeru pulled Tsukito away, clutching him even closer.
"Stay away from him! Haven't you done enough?"
Apollon could only watch helplessly as Takeru carried his brother to the infirmary. His hands gripped at his stomach, trying to ease the growing nausea in his gut. It did not help.
This was all his fault.
Okay admittedly, I got a biiit lazy with this one. I just wanted to get this done and over with sooner so I can write the next AU I'm obsessing over
