Disclaimer: I do not own any of the animes.
12. Do I love Daisuke?
Crescentors lined the outskirts of the landmark which appointed the death of my memories. Memories of my life. Soon enough, I'd be forced to be Aimi Kimura, without even the satisfactory of public appearances with the Crescentors being a disobediance. Still, at least it wasn't until this afternoon.
I had once asked Daisuke—considering he had become one of my best 'brothers' in the short, starting hours of my endurance, period—if I could be earthbound for just a few more minutes. He seemed to have been getting lost in my sudden dark blue eyes, the darkest I've ever seen. But, sadly, he shook his head and turned straight forward. I even consulted to flirting, an action I took with erratic horror that still lingered in my tensity; but, difficult as he was, he just chuckled and continued to tour me around. Shallow had said that I could pick anyone I want for a tour guide, and all Crescentors raised their hands voluntarily. Wearily, I chose Daisuke. Because he was not bouncing up and down waving at me. He was perfectly casual standing, cross armed, amongst the crowd, near the back column. He agreed without a single regret.
But I could see that he hated doing this. He hated making me suffer; and that last part I couldn't understand. Of course, it had to be part of his job description to bound me with eternal torture; yet, he seemed to have gotten over cruelty. At one point, I had even had a sense of sympothy swoosh over my inner conscience. Silently, I kept my head down. I didn't want eye contacting to be an uncomfortable moment between us.
"So, how do you like Aqua Fountain?" Daisuke had offered involuntarily, unintrested while he gestured towards a fountain flowing in streams of ribbons down cliff rocks. It reminded me of home.
Honestly, I answered. "It's beautiful. Just like Earth, somehow."
"We maintain a lot of human generation in our era. Cloud Lake is mainly a location for relaxation. But, since Shallow Kimura had joined forces with his brother, having him sentenced to death, everything changed here; and no one enjoyed the thought of fighting." Daisuke suddenly confided, his head down and eyes lost in thought. "Kei Kimura was really the best king Cloud Lake could have, and he always kept peace. Shallow had a different idea. Back then, we had to choose a mate, and no one else was allowed to take them. Shallow wanted Kei's wife, and he intended to get her.
After mourning over the death of her husband, she turned to Shallow, who offered her his open arms with respect... and enlightenment. They married after two months, since he marked her subconsciously. It doesn't really hurt once over with.
A child was born with the name Aimi, but sadly she died at the age of sixteen..." He peeked sideways at me with an apologetic stare. I had gotten used to that. "Everyone believes your his daughter from another life; but, only because Shallow commands them to. Really, you're just some kid." From the change of his expression, I knew I was anything but that.
"So, if Ayumu don't mark me, I can choose whoever I want? From the Crescentors?" I asked, trying to make a joke which never really seemed to make it to humor.
Daisuke shook his head. "Ayumu hasn't marked you... but he still wants you." He turned to look at a river we were passing by, the cicadas and birds chirping, buzzing and singing peacefully, blissfully.
Thinking of a way to strike up conversation again, after feeling slightly uncomfortable with the declaration on behalf of Ayumu, I walked along the brick wall. Clumsy enough, I staggered a bit. Daisuke reached out to slide his hand into mine, sustaining my fall.
"I'm fine," I assured. Protesting against the contact, I slid mine away from his. "If I fall, I'll just land on my feet," I winked before continuing. "Lion instincts." I growled, trying to make a joke. He didn't laugh.
"Nani?" I had to ask.
"Why aren't you afraid? Any normal girl who had been chosen would be. Aren't you scared at all? Not even the most tiniest of bits?" Daisuke demanded.
I withered at his words, before smiling hopefully.
"Nope," I shook my head. "I have loads of people to support me. Even if I don't get to see my friends again, I'm still glad I'll be here.." Again, I smiled; blushing, this time.
"Why? Why would you be so abnormal?" Daisuke argued.
I was silent for a long while before speaking up my honest, truthful, contemporary answer.
"Because I'm already inhuman..."
"Huh?" Daisuke purred, confused.
"Ever since I became a Mew, I'd noticed that I would never be Cream again. I would be Mew Cream. And, after finding out I was unordinary even to them, I started to lose hope in myself, started to actually believe that everyone was right. That I wasn't normal. I was a curiosity, a freak that belonged in an asylum. But..." I paused, looking down.
"But?" Daisuke prompted, impatient.
"But I knew that they were wrong, because I'm still human." I smiled. "Like all the Crescentors are, that's what keeps me strong. They believe they are different from our species, but really they are hiding under the bravado, the swagger. It's not them, it's a mask. And so, I decided that it was best to look at them as I look at myself: abnormal, but still human." I turned to look up at Daisuke, who was staring at me with eyes so intense. I smiled, cheerful that I had made him react in such a way. And that reaction bugged me.
He never responded, just kept staring at me. I didn't like people to gawk at me for too long, so I looked for a new announcement, a new speech. Searching the grounds, its acres. The sky, its clouds. The forests, its scenic trees. Until finally, I looked back at Daisuke. He was my topic.
"Even you, Daisuke, who hides so much it hurts your heart. Even though you don't confess anything out loud, I'd still be able to hear you through gifts, talents and skills. We are all the same. I mean, look at me..." I spread my arms wide for a display. "What difference do you see between us?"
Daisuke jaw had dropped, and amazingly that made me happy. I had blessed him with a reaction so inconspicuous to him, he looked confused by the drop. But a burst of a smile lit his lips, before he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. I stood frozen.
"It's nice to hear those words come from your lips, the comparison between you and me was delightful." He buried his face into my hair and thanked me. "Arigato."
I smiled, nodding my head into his chest. "Do itashi mashite."
We stayed like that, and my conscience didn't seem to protest. And for some reason... I liked it.
"I'll take you to Earth for one last time, just to make you happy. And I'll be there, okay?" Daisuke said, with tear-stained, florid cheeks.
"Really?" I was hopeful. Backing away, just in case he were to burst out laughing and call me a baka, I stood on my tip-toes.
And when Daisuke smiled with a nod, I mirrored his expression before running back up to him and wrapping my legs around him in a truce. A friendship hug. Before lifting them back down again and burying my face into his chest this time, just to let a few tears escape.
And that was when I asked myself a question out of mature importance, that I liked the sound of even though it was completely crazy and impossible.
Do I love Daisuke?
