VI

MONTH FOUR

She knew she had to choose quickly, because that choice would change everything permanently. Deep down, she always knew killing and hurting people was never the answer, but she was always willing to do anything to protect her loved one.

"Hey, primo. Why are you cooking at night? You're overworked yourself lately" G said as he spotted him with the maid at the kitchen. "Well, I heard Yuki is always busy and never left her room. I'm returning the favor". "But that doesn't mean you should do this. She asked not to be bother, remember?"

"But still, I-"

"Primo? Giotto, wake up!"

Before he could even finish his sentence, he collapsed.

'You're an idiot, you know that? I can't believe G took the nerve to come to me, asking to nurse you"

"Haha… just a second after I woke up, you're already being cold to me. Don't be that harsh, Yuki. But what exactly did he said to you?"

"Hmm. He said…"

...

"What business do you have with me? I told you to step away from my room. Just stay right here and don't come in"

"Fine by me. It's Giotto. He passed out at night, trying to make you a snack while forcing himself. He's having a fever now and he kept repeating your name in his sleep over and over. I think you need to end everything you're doing now"

"Hmm… if I nurse him, will you stop watching me?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me, G. I've always known since my arrival here, you've been watching my every movement. You can't hide that enormous malevolent aura from me. So, what'll it be?"

"Fine, I won't do that again. You have my words. However, if one day I catch you acting suspicious, I won't hesitate to interrogate you"

"Fair enough"

...

"Seriously, what's wrong with both of you? You and G never stop glaring at each other every time you two met"

Yuki poured the bucket of ice to the bowl of water, putting many ice cubes, and put the towel in the bowl. Without squeezing it, she put the towel on his forehead. "It-it's too cold, Yuki! You didn't even squeeze it" he jerked, immediately grabbed the towel. "I never said I would treat you nicely. And also, that's the punishment for disturbing me" she took the towel from his hand and squeezed it above the bowl. "So what are you doing inside your room all this time?" Giotto asked. Yuki put the squeezed towel on his forehead again and answered "I've been doing some thinking. Hey, Giotto. Although this isn't like me, I want to ask you something" she asked solemnly.

"If you were caught between two different worlds, what world will you choose?"

"Hmm… At times like that, there will be two things I should see. It's all about what I want to do and what I must do. But if I were stuck between the two, then there's only one option"

"What is it?"

"It's not about what I must do anymore. It's about what I want to do. 'Want' and 'must' are two different things. At that time, I-" Giotto coughed many times that it cut off his words. Yuki helped him lifting his body a bit to cough then put him back to lying position. "It's okay. You don't have to continue it. I understand what you're trying to say"

"Thanks for the advice" she added.

"Why don't you share some of your important memories after the death of your mother?" he sneered. "I-I'd rather not". "Think of it as my last wish before I died". "Don't be silly. You're not going to die just because of a small fever. But I'll do it, just for today"

Yuki told him everything about the unforgettable moments and he smiled when she told him the story. "I'm jealous of that masked man. He seems like your prince, meeting you every night like that. I would trade everything I had to be your prince" he said straightly. "What are you saying? He's not my prince" she sighed. "Don't you like him?" he asked.

"I don't understand the feelings of love. I never fall in love with anyone. Moreover, I never saw his face, only his calming voice and gentle touch, just like…" she glanced at Giotto when she said that, stared at him blankly. "Just like what?" he asked. "Ah, I forgot. I still have some business to be done. I'll call someone to take care of you. Bye, Giotto" she headed to the door.

"Hey, wait a minute" he tried to stop her, but she was already gone. When she was gone, Giotto opened the drawer near his bed and let out a Domino mask (the mask that only covered the eyes). As the mask was on his hand, he said "How am I supposed to tell you the truth?"

Meanwhile at the same time and outside his room, Yuki leaned over to the door, clenching her fist. "What am I thinking? They're not the same person. No… they're not"

The second day, Giotto was still on bed, but almost recovered. However, Yuki didn't nurse him, instead, she asked one of the maids to do it for her. Though he was very disappointed, he could only accept the situation halfheartedly. Skip to the night time, the universe guardian peered at her letter, looking very confused in her room. She gripped the letter tightly. She decided to go to Giotto's room and carried the letter with her.

Good thing was, the door wasn't locked. Gently, she opened the door, not wanting to wake the sleeping man. She stood right next to him and stared at him with conviction looks.

"It's not about what I must do anymore. It's about what I want to do"

Those words kept echoing inside her head. Her decision was clear when she brought out a knife from her hand. She pointed the knife at his throat. She slowly lowered her hand until the tip of the knife touched his throat. At that moment, her resolve of finishing her mission changed her perspective. She was going to kill him.

"Die… Giotto" she glared at him with full of murdering intention.

"Yuki…" Giotto voiced, startled her.

"Yuki… where are you? Please don't ever leave my side. I want you here… I need you here" he mumbled in his sleep.

That mumble snapped her. She pulled away her hand, but didn't dispose of the knife. "I… I can't. But why?" she asked herself while eyeing on Giotto. Her sweat dropped because of the perplexity. But something caught her eyes. It was above the drawer. She twitched as she saw the mask on top of it. She picked up the mask with shock. "What is the meaning of this?" she looked at him.

"Who's there?" at such a bad time, G came inside. He saw Yuki held a knife on her left hand and a mask on her right. He thought of it as a threat and pulled her hand forcibly, dragging her outside.

"Trying to act all nice, huh? Well, what's that knife for? Tell me! You're here to kill Giotto, right?" G pinned her to the wall. "I…" she bowed her head. "Look at me! Stop acting as if you're confused by something!" he yelled. Suddenly, coincidentally or not, Yuki's letter flew away from her pocket. G picked it up and opened it.

The letter was a shock for him. "What is the meaning of this letter?" he asked with lower voice. Yuki snatched the letter and said "You read it, right? If I don't kill Giotto, my father will be sent to another dimension with no return". "Good for you, in my current state, I can't do anything to harm him or you. I'll let you go, for now" she left the puzzled G.

…

"I'm glad I found you, Yuki. I'm fine now, thanks to you" Giotto said as he spotted Yuki was sitting outside, but gave no answer. Silence filled the air for few seconds. Then, Yuki broke the silence.

"Tell me"

"What?"

"Explain this" she let out the mask.

"Th-That's…" Giotto was out of words.

"I won't walk away or mad at you. Just tell me the truth, please" she looked at him with another painful face. Seeing that, Giotto decided to tell her everything.

…

"I see. Thank you for telling me" she said while looking at the mask. "Because of your honesty, I will give you a reward. Anything you want" she forced her smile.

"Then, be mine for one day" he chirped. "Be… yours?" She blushed. "Yes, be mine for this day only. Although I want it to be forever" he solemnly said. "You have no rights to decline. Since you're mine now, let's go" he pulled her hand.

"We're supposed to attend a meeting soon" she said as she was taken away. "I don't care about that right now. Just close your mouth and eyes and come with me" he untied his tie to cover her eyes. Not seen by her, Giotto took Yuki to the car and escorted her inside.

"Wh-Where are we going? Are we in a car?" she asked nervously. To her surprise, Giotto took a hold of her head and pulled her to him to make her head leaned to his shoulder. "Just sit tight and lean on my shoulder" he said as he held her head, gently stroke her hair. Somehow, it calmed her down.

"We're here" Giotto untied his tie as they arrived. Yuki was stunned by the view she saw. It was a hill with a tree and fresh green grass with a touch of beautiful flowers everywhere. "Sit here" he ordered her and she obeyed. Then, Giotto slept in her lap, surprising her. "I'm tired of all that meetings. This is the best place to relax" he said while lying on her lap.

"Hey, Yuki"

"What?"

"Say that you love me, now"

"Say what?" she widened her eyes. "It doesn't matter if it's a lie. Just say it". "Why are you being so forceful?" she asked. Upon her question, he lifted his body and pushed her to the ground. He pinned her hands to the ground, making him on top of her.

"You're mind for today. I can do anything to you and make you do everything I want. Say it now, with your heart-warming, soft, and lovely voice" he locked his eyes on her.

It was the first time she felt her heart thumped like crazy. She couldn't hide her embarrassment. All she could think about was to obey him.

"I…"

"I can't hear you"

"I… I love you from the bottom of my heart, Giotto" she spoke blushingly. Seeing the very first blushing expression of hers, Giotto blushed back and couldn't help it but to lean his face to her. He couldn't overcome his lust for her, and that inability led his lips to touch her lips. It wasn't strange for a 24 year old guy to have the urge for someone, but Giotto was never the kind of guy who would be overrun by lust. But it happened and he couldn't go back one step.

Giotto kissed her passionately as he kissed and licked every corner of her lips. He wouldn't even give her a time to breath. Finally, Giotto pulled his lips away from hers as his forehead was touching hers.

"I love you too, Yuki. So much" he eyed her with red cheeks, then he planted his face on the ground with his body on top of her. "There's… no mistaken, it's also a lie. You're really convincing. I lost" she said nervously, trying to calm herself, but couldn't. She thought all of that was a joke, while the truth was, she didn't know that all of that was real.

"Giotto… are you sleeping? You're heavy" she said. "I'm sorry" he slowly lifted his body and shifted his body to sit next to her. He palmed his face, trying to hide his blushing face. "You're… too cute, Yuki. I can't stand it anymore" he turned his face to her a bit, but still palmed his face while only half of his face was seen by her.

"What's wrong with me? Why can't I stop this heart beat?" she asked herself as she gripped her chest.

"Am I…"

"Yuki…" Giotto turned his body to her and as a response, she did the same.

"Am I really…"

"Mind if I do this one more time?" he asked as he held her cheek and face close to hers. Yuki nodded in silence. And by the romantic moment they had, the two began to kiss again, only this time, Giotto did it more passionate and intense, as if he was tasting and eating her.

"I understand now. The reason why I couldn't kill him... it's all revealed now. I have… committed another sin"