COPYRIGHT NOTE: I don't own Xenosaga
COMMENTS: Okay, cookies and gold stars go to readers who remember the infamous XS quote from which this chapter's title is derived (hehehe, I love that scene! It's one of my all-time favorites!). Anyway, more cuteness is ahead! Like I said before, it's anyone's guess where the railroad in Sakura's domain leads, so here's my little comical interpretation.
Long chapter, I know, but I do think it's super-cute. Hopefully everyone will agree. ^_~
Fearless and Fluffy
Aiselne Nocturnus
Chapter 4
"No Need to Tremble Like That"
He must be out of his mind. Yes, that was the only logical reason Nigredo could concoct for why in U-DO's name the ebony-haired Variant agreed to participate in Albedo's ridiculous "let's scare Rubedo" scheme. The brothers' so-called ingenious scheme (if Albedo did say so himself) had not even been executed yet, and already matters seemed to go to hell. Come to think of it, what were Albedo's self-proclaimed brilliant plans, anyway? He still had yet to tell Nigredo. Urgh. Not only did this misadventure have "death penalty" written all over it, but it also had "half-assed" written all over it! A little voice inside Nigredo had a sinking suspicion Albedo never had any "plans" regarding Rubedo…other than following the older twin to be nosy as ever. Then again, the youngest brother supposed he only had himself to blame for tagging along. Nigredo should have known better than to get involved in the twins' idiotic issues.
And the pièce de résistance of the whole matter was…now Nigredo and Albedo were stuck in the massive, labyrinthian forest of Sakura's subconscious domain…and completely, utterly lost! Terrific.
From now on… Nigredo swore, narrowing his jade eyes in frustration, whilst peering through the thick, winding woods. …No matter what happens between Rubedo and Albedo…I AM STAYING OUT OF IT! The littlest brother washed his hands of the twins' business, something Nigredo believed he should have done years ago! However, first things first: he and Albedo still had to find a way out of this stupid forest. They had already spent a considerable hour aimlessly attempting to find their way back to the gas station. No exits appeared in sight; just trees, trees, and more damn trees. How was it possible for a scheme to backfire before it was even carried out?
The mid-afternoon sunlight dimmed under the overhead canopy of viridian trees. Occasional rays of light peeked through gaps in the leaves and branches, but in general, the forest was much darker and cooler than the rest of Sakura's sunlit domain. Large shadows moved in coordination with the towering tree branches blowing in the wind. Even Nigredo understood the sources of the shadows; certainly nothing to worry about, but a tad spooky, nonetheless. The fact that Gnosis roamed this forest also kept the black-haired Variant on alert, in the event one of those shadows turned out to be more than a mere 'shadow.' Nigredo was not scared, per se, but he could not help but wonder what that roaring 'thing' was which drove him and Albedo into the forest in the first place. It sounded familiar…
"Where are we, Nigredo?!"
Speaking of Albedo…
"I could ask you the same question," the Nigredo noted matter-of-factly, glancing down away from the trees to where his middle brother crouched on his feet, resting his hands atop bent knees. The white-haired Variant practically ran himself into exhaustion after fleeing like a lunatic through the woods. Of course, Nigredo doubted the 'only' reason Albedo was curled up into a ball was out of tiredness, either. Albedo and Nigredo were indeed lost, after all.
If only they could find the stream, the boys could then follow it towards Sakura's house. Granted, the U.R.T.V.s had trained in these woods several times, but each time they used the winding pathway to reach Sakura's house or the beach's checkpoint. Unfortunately, Nigredo's screaming idiot of a brother never took the pathway, and God only knew where the path was now. Nigredo would have used the mental link to at least track-down Rubedo, since wherever Rubedo was meant there would also be an exit. Unfortunately, Nigredo had already attempted to link, and Albedo was still dead-set against reconnection, all for the sake of this foolish game he wanted to play with Rubedo. "You're the one who dragged me in here," the younger brother added, his arm still sore after getting almost dislocated via Albedo's frantic yanks. "You should've known where you were going, Albedo."
Narrowing his violet eyes and hissing back a few choice words, Albedo decided to ignore the baby Variant's lecture. Okay, so Albedo's brilliant scheme was not working quite as swimmingly as he had hoped. Now, Albedo and Nigredo lost track of Rubedo and his prissy playmate. To make matters worse, Albedo and Nigredo were also lost in the damn forest, with all its eerie shadows…rustling trees…scratching branches…ominous winds…scratching…lots of scratching…grinding sand…scratching…what the hell was making that noise?!
Whitened vibrating fingers dug into Albedo's knees as frightened chills persistently ran down the length of the boy's spine. Rubedo always classified his younger twin a scardy cat, but Albedo never cared. Then again, all those times he "never cared," Albedo usually had his teasing older brother nearby, too. The absolute worst part about this whole ordeal, worse than getting lost and hearing those creepy, creepy sounds, was Albedo did not have Rubedo to grab onto. Albedo's other half was not here to comfort him, to hold him, and to say "don't be scared, Albedo. I'll protect you."
Rubedo…
Hell, at this rate, Albedo would settle for Rubedo's melodious ranting and teases, as long as it meant Rubedo would be beside Albedo. Sadly, right now, Rubedo was not beside Albedo.
Rubedo was beside Sakura.
Remembering that frilly-skirted temptress boiled Albedo's blood right back to reality. Oh no! Albedo might be scared, but he sure as hell was not going to hide and let Sakura win Rubedo's comfort and attention. Knowing that cherry-scented princess, she was probably scared and grappling onto Rubedo. And knowing her hormones-raging hero, Rubedo would probably love nothing better than to seize the golden opportunity to tell Sakura exactly how he felt.
"Don't be scared, Sakura. I'll protect you."
No!
"I'll ALWAYS protect you."
Those sweet words were notmeant for Sakura!
"Sakura, you mean so much to me."
No! No! No!
"Sakura, I lo-"
NOOOOO!!
On his feet in less than a second, Albedo's fuming revitalized him with newfound adrenaline to find his way out of this forest. More specifically, Albedo was hell-bent on finding Rubedo, and getting that brunette brat away from him! So what if the forest was spooky? So what if Sakura's entire subconscious domain was haunted? Albedo suddenly realized there were other things in life that were far scarier than ghosts! Ghosts' scariness paled in comparison to losing Rubedo, particularly losing Rubedo to Sakura Mizrahi. If that harridan wanted Rubedo, let her try, but she better be ready for some competition. After all, Sakura may be pretty and seductive, but she still was not the one with the inherent, natural-born, physical and mental claim to Rubedo.
Realizing how many "claims" Albedo had to Rubedo did admittedly fill the younger twin with a reassuring satisfaction. With so many bonds to Rubedo, what did Albedo have to fear? And yet, no matter how many ways he was tied to Rubedo, the redhead still seemed more interested in Sakura. Albedo never seemed to be enough…
…No! Thinking so fatalistically would drown Albedo in sorrow and provide Sakura with an opportunity to make her move. Albedo wasted enough time whimpering in the creepy forest. Be brave, be strong, and if Albedo worked hard enough, the rewards might be plentiful. Rubedo's warm arms, reserved only for his twin…
"I'm here, Albedo."
Yes…
"I'll ALWAYS protect you."
Those sweet, sweet words…all for Albedo.
"Albedo, you mean so much to me."
Yes! Yes! Yes!!!
"Albedo, I lo-"
YESSSSS!!!!!
That was certainly a goal worth running towards, and that was exactly what Albedo did. He ran, pumping adrenaline into his legs and high-tailing it as fast as possible through the scary woods. Let the ghosts or goblins or whatever try to stop him, because they would not get very far. Albedo was just as stubborn as Rubedo, and when he wanted something, come hell, high water, or U-DO itself, Albedo would get it!
There was only one small glitch in this admirable display of devotion.
Albedo forgot Nigredo.
Once again, the twins were so consumed by each other that their youngest brother was completely forgotten. Jade eyes narrowing, Nigredo ran a hand through his ebony hair before releasing an exasperated sigh. What a day this had been, and it was not even over yet! Then again, perhaps there were perks to being left behind, just this once. It meant Nigredo would not have to subject himself to anymore of his brothers' idiocy. He still had to find his way out of the forest, though, but wandering in a forest seemed the lesser of two evils right now.
Rolling his eyes, Nigredo threw up his hands in defeat. I give up.
- - - - -
"I…can't believe it…" Sakura gasped, wide-eyed and mouth agape as she and Rubedo found themselves standing before a massive locomotive. The couple's jaunt further down the rail line led them to discover the derelict train, several miles away from the gas station whence the kids came. The sun was lowering in the sky: still daylight but clearly mid-afternoon once Sakura and Rubedo finally found the train.
Sakura simply could not believe it. There was indeed a train after all!
Naturally fascinated by relics, Rubedo was automatically captivated by the sight of the old train. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before in his life (though considering most of his life was spent in the Yuriev Institute, that did not say very much). Nevertheless, the train was a brilliant piece of vintage engineering. This train was clearly designed in the Lost Jerusalem era. Though the transport was metallic, it lacked the streamlined modifications present-day shuttles possessed. The train's design was still beautiful to behold, a towered over the children by at least a story and a half. Rubedo ventured to wonder if this train had two levels, which he read was not uncommon for fancy passenger trains on Lost Jerusalem.
No doubt, this train was clearly meant for passengers, not a freight train for transporting goods. Windows sported curtains for privacy. The design was eloquent, not utilitarian, and embodied a sense of comfort and prestige, which must have been quite luxurious for passengers during the train's high-days. Plus the fact, the train was remarkably long, so long that neither Rubedo nor Sakura could tell where it ended. There were so many cars attached to the locomotive; at least ten, though most likely more. Rubedo assumed the train's overall length had to be close to a mile, though there was no way to be certain from his angle. Still, in the eyes of a U.R.T.V. like Rubedo who lived a somewhat "sheltered" life in the institute, this train was a marvel.
Yet…something was not right. As lovely as the train looked, it was as derelict as the platform Rubedo and Sakura previously visited. The train's eloquent exterior was tainted in maroon rust and age-old dirt. It was impossible to differentiate the original paint that colored the train. Several of the windows were broken, and their inside curtains fluttered in and out of broken glass in between gusts of gentle wind. Many of the curtains looked frayed and torn, too, browned by the tests of time. Various vines and creeping foliage also laced around the train's old wheels, binding them to the tracks like viridian chains. More than likely, the current train before Rubedo and Sakura's eyes was a shadow of its former glory.
The train was abandoned. There was not even a platform or station nearby for the train to properly reside. The entire mechanical beast was left out in the middle of nowhere, left to rot. As unnerving as the train seemed, Rubedo did feel a tad sorry for it. Perhaps it was because he greatly respected Lost Jerusalem relics. Or, perhaps it was because this train was an ideal example of what happens when things get left behind…
…No. Rubedo did not want to spoil this afternoon.
Blinking away the unwanted thoughts, Rubedo turned his attention back to Sakura. The brunette girl continued to stare up at the locomotive, locking her emerald eyes with the machinery and silently marveling. This clearly must have been the first time Sakura actually saw the mysterious train, else Sakura was a damn good actress for looking so incredibly stunned. Rubedo could only hope that this moment would bring the girl some closure regarding her spooky train-related spook from years ago. At least there was a train.
Of course, it was still anyone's guess regarding the identity of that presence…and that roar…
…There was one way to find out.
"Rubedo, where are you going?"
Halting again at the sound of Sakura's sweet inquiry, the red-haired boy took his attention away from the train, back to the brunette. Rubedo had a sinking suspicion that Sakura would not be pleased with the boy's decision, but…this was the reason why the couple ventured way out here in the first place. "I'm gonna' go check inside," he replied, not at all surprised to see Sakura's face pale minutely. "The train's a wreck, but aside a few broken windows and creaky floors, I can't picture it being dangerous, Sakura." Still, Rubedo was not going to force her to tag along if she got cold feet. "But I'll understand if you want to wait out here. I won't be long."
Sakura was certainly not about to back-out on this adventure, especially since she came so far. It was stupid to quit at this point, and Sakura knew as long as Rubedo was beside her, there was nothing to fear. "You don't have to be scared when I'm around." The young girl needed to keep reminding herself about Rubedo's promises.
"I already said I was coming with you, Rubedo," reminded Sakura, before quickly stepping beside the boy and nodding affirmatively. Truthfully, she did feel safe near Rubedo, and the confidence just seemed to materialize within his presence. Rubedo had that effect on Sakura, one of many effects. "Besides," she smiled cutely, giggling softly while playfully nudging Rubedo's arm. "It's not fair for you to keep promises while I break them, is it?"
Anytime her 'promise' crept into his mind, it was virtually impossible for Rubedo not to blush and feel butterflies in his stomach. But knowing now was a bad time to drift back into fantasyland, the redhead kept himself focused and led Sakura closer to the train.
There was little point in inspecting the dead locomotive's engine room, so Rubedo headed to the nearest door of a passenger cart. Horizontal metal steps led to the door, and soundly creaked the second Rubedo's boot applied pressure. He almost feared the rusty metal step would break underneath his weight, but the small boy certainly could not reach the door handle any other way. Fortunately, there was a handrail bolted against the side of the doorframe, probably used to help passengers climb into the train. The rail felt secure, and the boy balanced his weight pressure against the rail and steps, praying neither the rail or step would break. His other hand then seized the rusty door handle, yanking it…feeling resistance, until it dawned on Rubedo that the door slid to one side, not forwards or backwards. He fiddled with the handle, hearing rusty hinges and locks effortlessly crumble inside. The locking mechanisms of Lost Jerusalem certainly were not as solidly built as those of Rubedo's time. After a moment, the rusted lock released, and a grunting Rubedo manually slid door sideways against its filthy, squeaky tracks. Dirt and rust easily rained down upon the boy's head as the door opened, prompting Rubedo to jump back off the steps and comb the filth out of his locks. A few dust particles caused him to sneeze as well.
Sakura brought a hand to her lips, muffling a giggle whilst noticing how cute Rubedo looked at that moment. One hand was up in his hair, and the other hand down under his nose. Thus, Rubedo had no available hand to cover the sheepish blush that found its way back to his cheeks. Honestly, Sakura felt her own stomach fill with butterflies whenever she saw that adorably impish look on Rubedo's cherubic face. The feelings instilled within her were all Sakura needed to feel so much better about this spooky adventure, which was no longer scary thanks to Rubedo's support. Sakura really owed so much to Rubedo, did she not?
"Let's go, Rubedo!" the girl chirped confidently, surprising Rubedo as she trotted to the opened train door. But before boarding, the girl spun around once to Rubedo, swishing her long white skirt and short brown hair in the process. Expectantly, Sakura waited by the door, giving Rubedo a coquettish expression. "Well?" she asked teasingly. "I believe my mom once said it's customary for gentlemen to escort ladies onto a train."
Rubedo already knew that, though he was a little skeptic regarding those rusty old steps. Sakura certainly was not a heavy girl. Still, it would have been pretty stupid, and undoubtedly embarrassing, if Rubedo escorted Sakura onto steps that broke! Plus, she might get hurt in the process, which was something the redhead never wanted.
"Well?"
Then again, Sakura did not look or sound worried, so why should Rubedo be worried? At least the girl's confidence revived, and Rubedo did not want to do anything that might send Sakura back into her shell. So, forgetting the worries, Rubedo finally nodded and reached Sakura, standing before the train's door. That damned blush tinted his cheeks again, his lips curled into a grin, and Rubedo found himself playing along with Sakura's game. Following suit, the red-haired little "gentleman" respectfully bowed before his "lady," while she curtsied with her white dress. It was difficult to maintain the act amidst their giggle-trembling bodies, but one could not deny that the kids were having fun. To be on the safe side, Rubedo ascended the rickety stairs first, just to make sure no accidents might befall Sakura. When the coast was safe and clear, he then offered his hand to the girl, helping her climb inside the old train. The train might not have been Cinderella's beautiful carriage, but right now, beside her prince, Sakura felt like a princess.
The blushy, giddy young couple was so consumed by each other that neither heard a deep, feral growl from behind. As Rubedo and Sakura disappeared inside the old train, the growl deepened to blood-curdling snarls. Frail twigs snapped, bushes rustled violently, and grass crunched underneath heavy stomps. Teeth ground, eyes narrowed into dagger-like slits, and blood pumped like a beaten war drum. The very essence emitted a sense of massacre.
Painfully yanking a twig out of his scruffy white hair, the irate Albedo stomped out of his bush, silently sauntering towards the hideous train.
- - - - -
"Wow! Sakura! Look at this place!" marveled Rubedo, gushing like the kid he was over the gorgeous interior of the train. Granted, everything was covered in age-old dirt, mold, and cobwebs, and the cart was not the most pleasant-smelling of locales. Nevertheless, Rubedo's blue eyes were wide with awe as the glowing boy absorbed this rare opportunity to experience such a fascinating Lost Jerusalem relic. He almost wished his brothers did tag along to see this ("almost" being the key word). "This is so cool!"
Unsurprised by Rubedo's reaction, Sakura just giggled and smiled at his boyish interest. Still, the train was indeed quite lovely in spite of its decrepit condition. Every inch of the floor was carpeted, though it was impossible to distinguish the carpet's colors and patterns from the filth. The traffic aisle was lined by several rows of cushioned maroon seats, each with an overhead light. One side of the aisle was even designed to have a few restaurant-like tables and chairs, all fastened to the floor for transportation purposes. There were even elegant chandeliers dangling from the ceiling, all with countless crystals that minutely gleamed in the windows' sunlight. The light fixtures were understandably not working, but still quite lovely to behold. If Rubedo was mind-boggled by this train's prestige, Sakura could just imagine what a Lost Jerusalem passenger might have thought when this train was in its full glory.
"Ha! I knew it must've had a second level! Sakura! Come here and check this out!"
Rubedo was practically bouncing around the train, so much Sakura noticed a few of the chandelier's crystals softly jingled. This old train was obviously not in the best of shape for a boy to be acting as though he was on a jungle gym. For all the kids knew, this train was a rusted deathtrap…um, don't think like that. To be safer, Sakura traversed the train a bit more cautiously to where the energetic redhead stood at a…banister? There were stairs on this train, all carpeted and leading upward to presumably a second floor. Well, that explained why the train was so tall. Sakura wondered how much a ticket for this train cost in the old days. Clearly, only wealthy people could have afforded to ride an impressive train such as this one. But what was upstairs, anyway? Cabins?
Knowing the only way to find out, Rubedo carefully stepped onto the creaky stairs, mindful of their age. A natural-born leader, Rubedo always figured it best if he went first in any potentially dangerous situation. Dust and dirt particles coating the stair rail stuck to his fingers as he gripped the rail for stability and carefully ascended the small staircase. The stairs whined, but none of them broke, allowing the redhead to reach the second floor without incident. It was darker up there, but sunlight was still available through the broken windows. But before more investigations could be made, Rubedo had to get Sakura upstairs…
…Upstairs…
Yes, he blushed…fervently…and Rubedo felt totally dirty for the way his hormones-induced mindset warped getting Sakura 'upstairs.' Wanna' go upstairs with me, Sakura? No! No! No! He did not mean it like that! Every time Rubedo's brothers asked, or egged, about him and Sakura, the stubborn link master notoriously claimed "it's not like that!" Rubedo did not think about Sakura like that…did he?! Of course not! Yes, Rubedo wanted his proverbial kiss, but…nothing more, right? Yes, he was a boy reaching adolescence, and yes, 'urges' came with the puberty package, but…STOP THINKING THAT WAY, YOU FREAKIN' PERV! Rubedo absolutely refused to think about Sakura Mizrahi that way! She was too precious and too perfect for the likes of him to defile. Yet, here Rubedo was, thinking naughty little thoughts about…jeez, now was not the time for Rubedo's wild imagination to run loose again! And why in God's name was it so warm today?!
"Rubedo? Are you up there?"
Realizing he better damn-well pull himself together (and pull himself out of the gutter while he was at it), Rubedo cursed himself before returning his attention back to Sakura left downstairs. It would have been a lie for Rubedo to claim there were no ulterior motives behind his and Sakura's train adventure. He still wanted that illustrious kiss, wrapped in a hug alongside the glorious declaration of Rubedo being dubbed Sakura's "hero." As far as anything 'else' was concerned…let's take it one step at a time, dammit! Clamping his eyes shut to block the unwanted thoughts, the boy shook his head once before walking back to the stairs. The floors soundly creaked up here, more so than downstairs. Rubedo would have to watch his step.
…Crunch!
Sapphire eyes flew open and a foot stumbled back when Rubedo noticed he blindly stepped on a shard of broken glass. His uniform's boots were too thick for simple glass to cut, but a pin drop would have been startling within the train's dead silence. The glass crunched under his foot, leaving behind tiny, glistening, pebble-like fragments. It was only then that Rubedo noticed glass was everywhere, more noticeably upstairs than downstairs. He also knew Sakura's casual shoes were not as solidly crafted as a U.R.T.V.'s combat boots. The last thing Rubedo wanted was for a piece of razor-sharp glass to pierce Sakura's foot. We'll have to be careful…
Crunch…crunch…crunch…
Odd, Rubedo never noticed the noise when he first came upstairs, but maybe that was because his mind was…elsewhere.
Crunch…CRUNCH…CRUNCH…
Odd…the noise was getting louder.
CRUNCH…CRUNCH…CRUNCH…CRUNCH…
Odd…Rubedo was not even moving!
For once in his life, Rubedo was grateful to possess a genetically advanced body, enabling him to spin around in quite literally the blink of an eye. His own eyes blinked a few times in unprecedented shock upon realizing nothing was behind him, nor before him. What the hell? Rubedo's mind had been wandering all over the place today, but he highly doubted he imagined that noise. It sounded like glass crunching under the weight of…something…something that was trying to approach Rubedo from behind…
Oh get a grip! Rubedo almost slapped his forehead. What kind of a leader jumped to crazy assumptions such as that? There was nothing on this train except grime and weeds. And even if there were something trying to sneak up behind him, Rubedo would have seen it! The afternoon sun was still bright enough to prevent an inordinate amount of concealing shadows. The upstairs floor of the train was dimmer than below, but Rubedo could still see in front of himself. All he found were doors that probably led to passenger cabins. Nothing else was there.
Unless…something was inside one of the nearby cabins…hiding…watching…
Listen to yourself! Rubedo practically screamed to himself. This is ridiculous! There's nothing on this train to worry about except creaky floors. How the hell do you expect to help Sakura overcome her fear if you think this way? How the hell do you expect to lead a MISSION if you think this way?! YOU'RE the link master, dammit! Act like it!
"Rubedo? Where are you?!"
The redhead was seconds away from calling back to Sakura, when…
Crunch.
What the hell IS that?! It was driving Rubedo crazy, along with pissing him off. Whatever the hell kept taunting him like this was destined for a rude awakening once Rubedo identified the perpetrator. He never saw anything, but Rubedo certainly heard something nearby, and he was tired of playing games. Cabins were nearby…the crunches seemed to come from one of them…
"Come' on! Come out and face me!" taunted the redhead, rolling up a sleeve and then balling his fists in preparation for a fight. At the farthest end of the corridor was an ajar door, accompanied by more echoing crunch…crunch…crunches. Traversing cautiously, the link master moved away from the stairs towards the grime-covered door. Slowly at first, Rubedo then broke into a sprint down the hallway to the mystery door. One consolation was at least the door was a considerable distance away from the staircase, and if Rubedo engaged in battle, Sakura would be downstairs, far out of the way, and safe.
So Rubedo thought, anyway.
Right now, Rubedo had to set his sights on eliminating whatever it was that kept haunting him and Sakura today. A gut feeling kept telling him that whatever was at the end of this hallway would provide answers. His boots hammering against the rickety floors, the adrenaline-filled redhead grinned arrogantly as he reached the ajar door; ready, willing, and able to kick that 'presence's' ass once and for all!
If only Rubedo watched out for that last step…
CRACK.
…The boy never had time to blink, scream, or regret his recklessness. A particularly rotten floorboard released under his running boots, and immediately sent Rubedo plummeting downward with the splintered wood.
- - - - -
"Rubedo!!" Sakura softly cried, gripping the dirty stair rail and continuously calling up to him. The brunette could have sworn she heard some loud noise from upstairs, and Rubedo never replied to her calls. She highly doubted Rubedo was purposely ignoring her just to frighten Sakura, so the next possibility was something happened to him…No! Sakura refused to let her fears retake control of her mind. Rubedo was a strong boy, and a U.R.T.V., too. Sakura just had to take a deep, deep breath, calm down, and wait for Rubedo to return. Rubedo was probably just…checking around upstairs. Yeah. He probably wanted to make sure everything was safe before Sakura arrived. Yes. Rubedo was always so sweet and looking out for Sakura's safety. There was nothing to worry about.
Crunch…
Sakura could not help it; she yelped in surprise, spinning around like a ballerina upon hearing crunched glass from behind her. But just like her red-haired companion upstairs, Sakura saw nothing, minus the train's already-present seats and furnishings. Nothing else. Did she just unintentionally step on a piece of glass? Sakura was unsure, so she glanced downward to her purple shoes…
"Saaaaa…kuuuu…raaaaa…."
The girl's emerald eyes snapped in horror when her ears noticed Sakura's name. First instincts guessed the one who called out to her was Rubedo, but… "Saaaaaaaa…kuuuuuuuu…raaaaaaaa…." Why would Rubedo call out to her in such a low, spooky, craggily voice? The voice did not even sound like Rubedo's! The voice was not even coming from upstairs, either; it was definitely on Sakura's level…nearby. Besides, the voice was genuinely scaring Sakura, and she knew that was something Rubedo would never do to her.
The brunette's teeth chattered inside her whimpering mouth, lips quivered, cheeks paled, eyes widened, and sweat trickled. So many trembling bodily responses, and yet Sakura found herself too petrified to move, or scream. The temperature dropped below zero, chilling Sakura to her core. Her eyes remained glued on her feet, not willing to see whatever was spookily moaning her name.
"Saaaaaaaaaaaa…kuuuuuuuuuuu…raaaaaaaaaaa…."
But if Rubedo was not the owner of that voice, who…or what…was?
"Leave…leave me alone…g-go away!" Sakura squeaked, failing her attempts at sounding and being brave. Amidst the heart pounding in her chest, deafening to her eardrums, Sakura panicked. She was all alone, Rubedo was elsewhere, and there was…something…calling to her. "Saaaaa…kuuuu…raaaaa…." Haggard, gasping moans, all directed at the frightened little girl protectively wrapping arms around her vibrating frame.
Rubedo?! Where are you?! Tear-brimmed green eyes clamped shut. Sakura had to be brave! She had to! This was the very reason she and Rubedo ventured to find the train, was it not? Face your fears! Rubedo would be so proud of Sakura. Be brave!
Yes, Sakura would be brave! She would follow Rubedo's leadership examples and face this ghost, monster, or whatever it may be. Digging deeply within the recesses of her will, Sakura collected the courage she needed. Her head snapped upwards, away from her feet, with glossy emerald eyes flashing open to come face-to-face with…
…Something rising upward, slowly from behind one of the maroon seats nearest the door. Up and up, only one-inch of the moaner's head could be seen: impossible to identify, except for one keen distinction.
…It was white…just like Sakura's face.
Ghosts are white.
Ghosts rise and moan, too.
"Saaaaaaaa…kuuuuuuuu…raaaaaaaa…."
Oh my God!
In what felt like the blink of an eye, the terrified girl bolted up the rickety staircase, poorly stifling whimpering shrieks. Sakura almost tripped on her dress during her hasty retreat, and she heard the stairs whine adamantly, but never break. For all Sakura cared, the ground could fall apart beneath her, and she would still keep running. Her heart felt like it might explode, and tears occasionally trickled from her eyes. She could not recall being this scared before in her life! Everything felt like a twisted fairytale: run! Run! Faster, before the monster eats you! Before the ghost gets you! Her father used to tell his daughter such creepy bedtime stories, and they always drove Sakura into Joachim or Juli's protective arms.
She needed arms to protect her. Sakura needed…Rubedo.
- - - - -
Meanwhile, back on the train's first level…
Ghastly moans immediately morphed into snorted giggles, before the white-haired little culprit doubled over in his seat with hysterics. He had to be mindful of not letting his laughs get loud enough to draw attention, but at this point, Albedo did not care. That look on Sakura's wide-eyed, agape, pale face was priceless!
Hahaha!! That was great! GREAT! The troublemaker slapped his knee, for the first time all day feeling like a million bucks. Oh yes, scaring Sakura was a definitive victory for Albedo! Jeez, I've never seen someone move so fast before in my life! Ha! Rubedo better never call ME a fraidy cat again, because Sakura's definitely worse! Hahahahaha!!! Run, run, Sakura, just like the scared little girl you are! Run, run, princess, right to your prince…
Oh crap.
Waitaminute. This was the very scenario Albedo did not want to happen, remember? His illustrious scheme just accidentally provided the perfect chance for Sakura to run to Rubedo, and potentially pull more of her girly seductions. The middle Variant's celebratory giggle fit ceased instantaneously, before snapping back to reality. Jumping off his seat, Albedo turned towards the stairs Sakura just bolted up. Damn…she's upstairs…with Rubedo…
And just like his other half, Albedo's face flashed red upon realizing how wrong it sounded to have Rubedo and Sakura upstairs…together…alone…! Bad, bad mental images! Oh no you don't! The red-faced boy snarled furiously, before stomping towards the staircase. There was no way in hell Albedo would give that femme fatale such an opportunity! Over my dead body! Er, well, that did not make much sense, considering Albedo could not die…but the bottom line was STAY AWAY FROM RUBEDO!!
Crunch…
Albedo so nearly stampeded up the staircase when noise halted him in his tracks. Crunch. Boots skidding against glass-covered carpet, the white-haired Variant kept his violet eyes forward, unwilling to look behind him as more crunch…crunch…crunch neared. His heart skipped a beat, and a bead of sweat quickly perspired down his face. Crunch. Yes, Albedo admitted that he instigated the earlier sound effects to freak-out Sakura.
However…right now…crunch…Albedo was not even moving…crunch…and…crunch…CRUNCH…CRUNCH…
Who was there?
"S-S-Sakura…?" stammered Albedo, knowing she was upstairs, but too scared to keep his thoughts focused on logic as the crunch…crunch…crunch came closer…closer…closer…
"N-Ni-gredo?"
Crunch…closer…CRUNCH…closer…CRUNCH…closer…
Shuddering, Albedo whimpered a "Ru-be-d-do…?" whilst clutching his half-heart in a prayerful manner, wishing Rubedo was near.
Fortunately, something was indeed nearby.
"Rrrrrrraaaaaaaoooorrrrrr!"
Unfortunately, that 'something' behind Albedo was definitely not Rubedo.
The train's poor unfortunate stairs almost screamed as loudly as Albedo when the boy scrambled upstairs, tripping several times and clawing the rails and steps like a cat. Fraidy cat…that is what Rubedo would call Albedo during a moment like this. But right now, Albedo would love nothing better than to find his twin and hear such teases. Yes, find Rubedo! The redhead would protect Albedo from whatever that 'thing' was! Find Rubedo! Run into his arms! The blissful thoughts drove tears to the frightened middle brother, provoking his amethyst eyes to clamp shut whilst he ran.
…A very bad idea, indeed.
BANG!!
The screaming and running was abruptly cut short when Albedo almost went sailing backwards down the stairs! The moment Albedo's boots reached the top of the stairs, he blindly ran into 'something,' sending him to his feet. Clutching the stairs to prevent himself from tumbling down them, Albedo quickly crawled away from them to a safer spot on the floor. On his hands and knees, the Variant kept his eyes on the dirty carpet, panting and sweating heavily in attempts to calm down. Albedo was safe, right?
Then why did a large shadow suddenly hover over him? A presence drove Albedo's heart to stop for a second. Icicles were probably not as frigid as Albedo felt in that very moment. The boy nearly wetted himself when the corners of his tear-filled eyes noticed the overhead presence's shadow was accompanied by…white?!
Shadows…presences…white…what did they have in common?
GHOSTS!!!!
Not even wanting to see it, Albedo defensively curled up into a ball and screamed at the top of his lungs. "RUBEDO!!!!"
"Albedo?! Is that you?"
For a moment, the white-haired boy nearly jumped for joy at getting a response to his cry. Sadly, the second his brain overrode his fear-clouded thoughts, Albedo's scream ended with a blink. Much to Albedo's dismay, the voice that replied to him was not his other half's but…
Wait a second: shadow…presence…white…white dress…
Damn, the middle child cursed, grinding his teeth as the realization sunk-in like disgusting-flavored cough medicine. Hissing, Albedo peered over his shoulder to see Mata Hari herself on her hands and knees, also apparently knocked over after Albedo's collision. One had to remember that Sakura was up here, too. Terrific.
And the worst, most ego-bashing part about the whole ordeal was Albedo just mistook Sakura for a ghost! She scared him! So what if it was unintentional? This situation was meant to be the other way around so Albedo scared Sakura. Why the hell were Albedo's plans backfiring today?! Why?
But there was one saving grace to this moment. Rubedo did not seem nearby, and while that always left Albedo vulnerable, it also meant Sakura could not dig her claws into the redhead. Albedo did live under the assumption that if he could not have Rubedo, nobody else should have the link master, either. By no means did Albedo feel ashamed upon realizing how selfish he sounded. All Albedo wanted was his twin, nothing more. Frankly, Albedo did not think one little request like that warranted outright selfishness. Strangely, nobody seemed to agree with him…
"Are you alright?"
During Albedo's musings, Sakura had climbed back on her feet and strolled over to the fallen boy. Sakura had to admit; Albedo almost gave her a heart attack when he rammed into her back. Then again, at the time, Sakura never realized it was Albedo who ran into her. But now that the excitement was over, the brunette girl had to also admit that she was glad to see Albedo here. True, Sakura did not know 'why' he was here (didn't Albedo and Nigredo stay behind at the gas station?). Regardless, at least Albedo was not some ghost out to hurt Sakura, either. She trusted Albedo, which was why Sakura offered him a helping hand. "You're not hurt, are you Albedo?"
Blinking a few times, Albedo's purple eyes darted between Sakura's outstretched hand and her warm green eyes. Granted, Sakura still looked a tad shaken-up, but she seemed considerably calmer in Albedo's presence. Why? Oh great, she trusted him. Ordinarily, Albedo would have taken advantage of the situation to execute some good old-fashioned revenge on the emerald-eyed vamp. She looked like a scared little girl naively offering herself to an ill-intentioned stranger, just because he had a nice face or gave her candy. Sakura Mizrahi was a tad too trusting for her own good, especially around Albedo. Then again, it was not as though Sakura knew all the hateful thoughts Albedo related to her, or how he was itching to torment her.
Then again, it was not as though Albedo was actually inflicting physical harm upon Sakura, either.
The urge was strong: grab her hand, and toss her down the staircase. Yes. Heavens knew a U.R.T.V. could effortlessly drop a frail girl as if she were a sack of potatoes. Sakura was practically asking Albedo to hurt her after all those crude things she did to him lately. She was the one at fault, always getting in the damn way. She was the reason Albedo often contemplated ripping out his heart. It was her fault that Rubedo did not give a crap about his other half anymore!
So…why did Albedo refrain from sending the hurt right back at Sakura?
"Albedo? Are you okay?"
Because, like it or not, Sakura Mizrahi actually gave a crap about Albedo. Why? Albedo did not know, nor did he care to find out. He could not stand the brunette, but Sakura did not seem to return his resentment, did she? Why else would she have offered him a hand of concern? Was she trying to seduce him, too; enchant Albedo with her green eyes, like Nigredo would with his inherent powers? Maybe she was trying to lead Albedo into a false sense of security.
Or worse, maybe she actually cared about Albedo.
Damn!
Why the hell did a so-called bioweapon need a conscience, anyway?
"Albedo-?"
"I'm fine," Albedo finally grunted, before swatting her hand away and rising on his own. He may not have sent Sakura careening down the staircase, but that did not mean Albedo was going to soften to the point of accepting her hand. The very thought of holding Sakura's hand, for any reason, caused Albedo's skin to crawl. He may not have a gargantuan amount of pride left after today's embarrassing escapades, but Albedo was proud enough not to hold Sakura's hand. He did not care how nicely Sakura was currently treating him. There was only one person in the world Albedo allowed to hold his hand…and it sure as hell was not this wench!
Dusting himself off, for lack of anything better to do, Albedo kept his eyes away from Sakura's. Those emeralds of hers kept persistently attempting to lock with his amethysts, and would in turn chip away the boy's conscience. Albedo did not care if Sakura just-so-happened to be his guardian angel. The middle child did not like Sakura and that was final! He owed nothing to her and would not humor Sakura's inquiries.
If Albedo were better behaved, he would have asked if Sakura was okay, too. But she was still standing on her own, so what more proof did he need of her state? Albedo really did not want to get chummy with this harridan, anyway, so he cut to the chase. "Where's Rubedo?" he asked, keeping his voice in check for safety's sake. Albedo did not want to sound too aggressive, or possessive. Albedo could care less if he offended Sakura. However, in the event Rubedo was nearby and overheard his twin saying hurtful words to Sakura, that would not lead to anything pleasant for Albedo. Therefore, the white-haired brother kept his voice as neutral as possible. Pretending to not have followed Rubedo and Sakura onto the train, Albedo blankly glanced around the upstairs corridor. "Did he come up here?"
Sakura hated to be the bearer of bad news, but she nevertheless nodded. "He did, though it was before I came up here. Rubedo went ahead of me, but he…" Pausing, Sakura bit her lip, hesitantly staring at Albedo's profile. Sakura was smart enough to know how close the twins were, and she knew Albedo got particularly paranoid whenever something happened to Rubedo. The last thing Sakura wished was to send Albedo into a panic the moment he discovered "…Rubedo hasn't come back yet."
Naturally, Sakura's words more than easily got Albedo's attention. He had already known about Rubedo venturing upstairs before Sakura. However, only now did Albedo realize that, as Sakura noted, Rubedo had yet to return. Surely, Rubedo would have come back by now, right? What was taking so long upstairs? From where Albedo and Sakura stood by the stairs, the train's second floor did not appear overly eventful. There were many passenger cabins, but otherwise, the place was as dull and derelict as the rest of the rotten train.
So then, the question remained: Where…where's Rubedo?
All of a sudden, Sakura and her flirtations did not seem so dire to Albedo anymore. As if a gear was shifted inside of him, his very attention was taken off Sakura and onto Rubedo. Worries flooded the middle child's body like a thunderous waterfall. Where was Rubedo? Why was he taking so long? Was he okay? Did he get hurt?! Oh dear God, what if he was hurt? What would Albedo do? Albedo could not stand it if something terrible happened to his twin! What would he do without Rubedo? How could Albedo possibly tell Nigredo the news? What would become of them?! No! No! No! This was too soon! Rubedo could not leave him behind so soon!! Albedo would never let Rubedo do that!
"Albedo? Where are you going?"
"To find Rubedo! Where else?" Albedo curtly snapped, shooting a second-long glare over his shoulder to the clueless girl. He wanted to say a few other not-so-nice words to Sakura while he was at it, but time was of the essence. Short and simple: Albedo had to find Rubedo. Sakura was unimportant.
But Sakura was not nonexistent, either.
"Wait! I'm going with you!" she called, before Albedo heard her ridiculous shoes scamper in his direction. Snarling in quiet agitation, the boy cringed upon the notification that Rubedo's pretty princess wanted to find her prince. How sickeningly noble. Why could Sakura not go sit in a balcony and wait for Rubedo, just like all those princesses did in fairytales? Was that not the duty of a princess: sit around, do nothing, bat her eyes, and wait until her charming prince came to rescue her from her boring life? Albedo did not read as many books as Rubedo, so his sexist opinions were rooted in limited literary recollections. Nevertheless, Albedo was not relishing the idea of Sakura following him. He could find Rubedo on his own, without any chance of Sakura horning in on Albedo's discovery.
"You go wait downstairs," replied Albedo, stopping and Sakura following suit. He did not dare turn and face her, so the white-haired boy coldly kept his back to the girl. Tightening a fist, Albedo inhaled a deep breath before possessively grumbling, "Rubedo's my twin."
The sharp tone Albedo grunted more than easily caused Sakura to blink. She was not sure whether to be happy or sad at this moment. On the one hand, Albedo's devotion to Rubedo was admirable beyond words. Honestly, Sakura admired the twins' bond. Every time she saw a glimpse of Albedo and Rubedo's affection, Sakura felt a breath get caught in her throat and her heart squeezed. They really care about each other, don't they?
However, on the other hand, Sakura noticed the pint of aggression in Albedo's words. She knew the middle Variant was not fond of her, but Sakura was starting to get a gist of why Albedo seemed to dislike her. The outright possessiveness in his voice was as obvious as if Albedo wore a sign around his neck.
Biting her lip, Sakura glanced downward for a second, realizing I'M the problem, aren't I?
Today had not turned out to be very fruitful regarding Sakura's mission to overcome her fears. Days like these reminded Sakura of how easily a person took life for granted. But Sakura was not stupid, either. After living with her CNS disorder for so long, the girl learned to cherish and savor however many days, weeks, and years left of her life. At the very least, Sakura wanted every remaining day to be constructive. If she could not face her fears to help herself, the next option was settling Albedo's fears to help him. Regardless of however Albedo felt about her, Sakura did like Rubedo's twin.
"Rubedo is…very lucky to have you, Albedo."
Never expecting those words from Sakura's lips, Albedo's eyes blinked in his perking head.
"You came all the way out here to look after Rubedo, didn't you?" Well, that was one way Sakura could have worded the truth, but Albedo was not about to tell her the 'whole' truth. Naively, the girl giggled softly. If Albedo did not resent her so much, he might have dubbed Sakura's giggle 'cute.' It was that typical coquettish giggle girls seemed to inherently possess, and the sound was sweet and grating at the same time. Albedo much preferred Rubedo's laugh, so energetic and adorable. It was a sure-fire way for Albedo's heart to flutter.
"You and Rubedo look out for each other, and I think it's very sweet, Albedo."
Yeah right. As if Albedo cared about Sakura's opinions regarding his and Rubedo's relationship. If Albedo never cared about Nigredo's, Dmitri's, or the rest of his "family's" opinions, what made Sakura assume her judgment mattered? It might have mattered to Rubedo, but to Albedo, Sakura's likes and dislikes held the same value as the dirt under his boots.
"I think it's very sweet, Albedo."
Still, Albedo would have been lying if he claimed Sakura's "sweet" adjective did not pique something inside him. He had no idea what that 'something' was, though.
"I don't…" Sakura trailed, shuffling a foot and tracing patterns in the filthy carpet like a child might with fresh snow. "I don't know what it's like to have a sibling. I hope to know soon, once my little sister is born, but…I can't be sure about that." Of course, Albedo knew what Sakura was hinting about. Rubedo was notorious for changing the subject whenever Sakura's illness crept into the conversation, specifically regarding how her illness was fatal. Sakura was not a fatalistic girl, but she did have tendencies of "planning ahead," in the event her condition took a turn for the worst. After all, few people knew the exact time, date, and place they would die, so the next best thing was seizing moments and tying as many loose ends. Albedo could sympathize. He may never die, but the same could not be said for Rubedo and Nigredo.
"Sometimes I wonder what it might be like to, you' know, have a sibling to look after. To be close to them, like you and Rubedo are. Hehe, I think I'd enjoy that. It must be nice to share a bond like that."
Albedo bit his lip. Yes, it was "nice" to share his bond with Rubedo, sometimes better than just "nice." Mere words could never fully describe how "nice" his and Rubedo's bond felt sometimes.
However, Albedo could not forget that the twins' relationship was not always "nice." If Sakura thought Rubedo and Albedo's bond was a perpetual "happily ever after" scenario, she was gravely mistaken. Typically, the twins argued more than they smiled. Hurt feelings were practically second nature. In retrospect, Albedo knew the vast majority of tears he shed in his lifetime almost always stemmed back to Rubedo in some minute way. The only reason Sakura probably assumed Rubedo and Albedo were so damn perfect was because they behaved themselves far better in her presence than at home. In the subconscious domain, Rubedo was usually busy with Sakura, and Albedo kept his distance. Rubedo never liked to start a scene with Sakura around. But once the U.R.T.V.s dove-out, that was when the insults were spat, the fists flew, and the feelings got hurt. So many nights Albedo cried himself to sleep, alone in his bed to wallow over some Rubedo-relevant melodrama.
"You and Rubedo look out for each other, and I think it's very sweet, Albedo."
Of course, once in a very blue moon, during the wee hours of the morning…the Albedo sobbing into his pillow would feel something climb into his cot. A warm, gentle weight would nestle against him, and arms would lace around the younger brother's trembling frame. The wet pillow would be forgotten, and instead Albedo would burry his tear-stained face against Rubedo's beating half-heart. Only then would Albedo finally fall asleep. Then, come morning, just before Nigredo awoke and teased them, the twins would exchange smiles, winks…silent messages only they could decode. The boys never apologized, because saying "I'm sorry" was just not in either twin's nature. But one way or another, they knew.
"It must be nice to share a bond like that."
The middle child's lips pursed, fighting both a frown and a smile pulling Albedo's trembling lips up and down. Sakura was the last person on earth to which Albedo wanted to appear weak. He did not possess the most stable grip on his emotions. Nevertheless, Albedo refused to give this coquette any more satisfactions, especially since Sakura already had Rubedo.
Rubedo…
"It must be nice to share a bond like that."
Oh yes, it was "nice" to have that bond, but it was not so "nice" to lose it, either! Who the hell did Sakura think she was? It was hypocritical for Sakura to banter about the twins' bond when she was the very reason the bond was breaking! Before Sakura, Albedo and Rubedo were inseparable. Yes, they still argued back then, but not to the vehement extents the twins did nowadays. Before Sakura, Rubedo was not ashamed to be close with Albedo and offer affection. Now, it was painstakingly obvious Rubedo was embarrassed whenever Albedo got close to him, and Rubedo's embarrassment offended Albedo. Before Sakura, Albedo was much happier. Everything between the twins was just fine until that brunette bitch stepped onto the stage!
"Albedo-?"
"Don't you dare humor me!" blasted the white-haired boy, finally spinning around and locking dagger-like amethysts into Sakura's surprised emeralds. Not caring about the consequences, Albedo snarled viciously at the timid girl. His blood boiled via her ignorance, while tears pricked Albedo's eyes via Sakura's sweet memory-jarring words. Emotions clashed within him: cold resentment and warm bittersweetness. For the first time since Sakura waltzed into his life, Albedo was unsure whether or not to like or hate her.
But not wanting to show weakness to Sakura, Albedo drove on his default hatred. "You don't fool me! I see right through you, flaunting your victory and feeling sorry for me! Don't waste your breath! No matter what you do or say, Rubedo will always be my other half! Always!" he nearly screamed, balling his fists and clamping his watering eyes shut. "You'll never change that!"
The boy's outburst obviously surprised Sakura, provoking her to blink carefully, as if fluttering her lashes too quickly might further disturb the fragile Albedo. Silence overtook the twosome, minus the occasional sniffle Albedo stubbornly stifled. The Variant's eyes remained closed for a multitude of reasons, while Sakura's continued to blink slowly. Lost in their own deep thoughts, neither child uttered a word to break the awkward silence.
Until…
"You're absolutely right, Albedo."
Uncertain if he heard Sakura correctly, Albedo's glossy eyes reopened quickly, instantly meeting the girl's green orbs. According to one of the many books Rubedo read, green was the color often associated with feelings of jealousy. How ironic. Yet, why was it that when Albedo currently looked into Sakura's eyes, he did not feel jealous? For the vast majority of this day, the white-haired twin had been a raving, envious lunatic. But now, after hearing all those nice things from Sakura…Albedo still did not like her, but…
"Nothing will ever change the bond you and Rubedo share."
Her hands somehow found their way to Albedo's shoulders, so quickly he never had time to react before Sakura smiled brightly. "Rubedo's…so lucky to have you, Albedo."
She said that to Albedo once before, but this time around, Albedo found himself actually listening to Sakura's words. The kind smile on her lips never wavered, though her eyes were windows to the girl's intentions. And much to Albedo's shock, nothing behind Sakura's eyes suggested her "humoring" him. Did that mean Sakura was honest? Did she not pity Albedo? Was Sakura, perhaps, jealous of Albedo? No. Albedo highly doubted such, because he spoke from experience when he noticed Sakura did not appear jealous. No. What baffled Albedo was how damn sincere Sakura looked.
"And…you're very lucky to have Rubedo, too, Albedo."
Sakura was happy for the twins.
And if it was as Sakura agreed: nothing would ever change the twins' bond, then…why was Albedo jealous in the first place? What did he have to fear?
"Rrrrrrraaaaaaaoooorrrrrr!"
Well, that roaring-thing was certainly fearful.
Gasping together, Sakura and Albedo spun back towards the stairs from whence the roar came. Sakura's hands protectively flew to her hammering chest, while Albedo's fists tightened again, this time to control his nerves. Whatever that 'thing' was, it was nearby, and most likely heading upstairs and coming for them. And where oh where was Rubedo? Sakura and Albedo prayed to God this roaring creature was not responsible for the redhead's disappearance.
Unfortunately, Albedo and Sakura needed to worry about their own predicament, too. If Rubedo was not around to protect them, then that meant one thing:
They needed to protect each other.
Still torn between so many damn contradictory feelings regarding the seductress, Albedo's head felt like spinning. He really did not want to pose as Rubedo's substitute hero (and Albedo would be Goddamned if he ever accepted a kiss from Sakura Mizrahi! No way in hell! Of course, getting kissed by someone else might be nice…er, now isn't the time!). Even so, Albedo's stupid conscience kept probing him to do something about Sakura. If need be, the white-haired twin could take care of himself. He was a U.R.T.V. Variant after all, and though scared, Albedo could "kick ass" just as proficiently as his other half. Albedo proved his physical strength the day he severely beat-up standard U.R.T.V. Number 623.
Sakura, on the other hand, was just a scared, weak little girl…
Reiteratively cursing his conscience, Albedo gritted his teeth before snatching Sakura's wrist (not her hand, of course). Ignoring her yelps, the boy yanked her with him towards the nearest cabin door. Although shut, the door was not locked and easily opened to display a dim, but vacant, cabin. Without questions asked, the white-haired Variant pushed the white-skirted girl into the room, knocking Sakura to the grimy carpeted floor. Back on her hands and knees, the fallen Sakura glanced back up over her shoulder to where Albedo stood at the threshold, clutching the doorknob. Emeralds and amethysts locked for one more second.
Again, why in U-DO's name did a bioweapon need a conscience?
"Shut up and stay in here," ordered Albedo, never giving Sakura a chance to open her mouth before he slammed the door behind him. He did not want Sakura to flatter herself into thinking he actually 'cared' about her. Rest assured, the one and only reason Albedo hid her from harm's way was on account of Rubedo. If something terrible ever happened to Sakura, Rubedo would take it the hardest. Albedo may not care about Sakura's feelings, but Rubedo's feelings were an entirely different story.
"Rrrrrrraaaaaaaoooorrrrrr!"
But now that Sakura was out of the way, Albedo had to worry about himself. He was all alone, up against an unknown creature roaming the train. Just because Sakura was safe did not mean Albedo was safe as well. Hating to be alone, and never liking to fight by himself, Albedo did the next best thing and broke into a sprint down the hall. Nobody ever said he was obligated to fight the monster, after all. At the end of the hallway, Albedo could see a cabin door open ajar; the perfect place for him to hide! Once the roaring creature was gone, Albedo could leave his refuge, get Sakura, and then go find Rubedo…
…Rubedo.
Albedo's split-second-long distraction provided the ideal chance for him to blindly run right into a hole near the end of the hall. He never even saw it until Albedo noticed gravity pull him down like a vacuum. By the time he screamed, Albedo hit the ground, and everything went dark.
To Be Continued In The Last Chapter
A/N: Cliffhanger ending, hehe. Don't worry; Ch.5 will wrap up all these mysteries.
Okay, hate me or like me, but I enjoy stories that pit Albedo and Sakura on semi-civilized terms (note the "semi"). I do believe Albedo's resentment towards Sakura was always more Rubedo-centric: not so much "Albedo dislikes Sakura," but more so "Albedo dislikes Rubedo for falling for Sakura." Plus, I have read canon databases that claim Albedo never 100% "hated" Sakura, too, especially after her sacrificial death in Xenosaga I&II. I know Albedo's claimed he hated Sakura, but seriously folks, Albedo's been known for saying one thing and meaning something else. You can't always take his words face value. I suppose it's debatable. Nevertheless, I hope people liked this chapter, and more importantly, didn't find it OOC. If you do, I apologize. -_-
Well, this spooky squee wraps-up next week with the grand finale, and I promise you: it's going to be cute! *^.^* I hope readers are still enjoying this story. Reviews always help inspire me.