Here's the season finale (and a quote from Auguries of Innocence). I'll edit these two chapters later; a bit busy, but I felt you've waited long enough.
Uraboku is not owned by me. Please support the official release.
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Chapter of the Longing Zinnia
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Story 14
Some Are Born to Endless Night...
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At the leftmost corner of the paper, Uzuki heads the date as May 22, 2006. He pauses, biting the end of his fountain pen in thought. What should he write? Uzuki hates literature, he hates book reports even more. All he wants is to get outside and start planting, surrounded by earthy smells and nature's magnificence.
There's only one person I know who was good at these kind of things, he thinks. I wonder how she is with her new family? She hasn't contacted me a lot, nor Kanata.
The events of April 30th still linger in his mind with a bad taste. He can't believe he almost killed Yuuki that night - she didn't deserve to die. And now she's gone, probably with that idea still fresh in her mind.
Lately since she's been gone, the world is more quiet and strange. April 30th is fuzzy in his mind except for the strong feelings of that night. Sometimes when he's not focused in reality, he sees strange creatures out the corner of his eyes. They always vanish when he moved.
Even stranger are the girls sleeping and boys disappearing at his school. There had been only three cases, and as of yesterday, it is resolved. The girls woke up and the boys are returned. But not one person can remember what happened.
This is simply a case for the Unknown Files, a detective said on the news. It's unsolvable.
Uzuki is glad that they're safe now.
Those kids really adore Yuuki, he thinks for a change. Especially that little girl, Minami.
Minami doesn't remember what happened on the day when she arrived. She remembers that a girl named Yuuki helped her escape her abusive parents. She gave her the love Minami had craved. She couldn't forget that girl. When Uzuki said he knew her, the kid asked non-stop questions. It took him forever to shake her off.
Now the girl plants with him whenever the adults let her. The two of them bond over this and over their parents they've left behind. Sometimes she even complains of seeing weird things like he does.
Wherever she is now, I hope she's happy.
Uzuki's phone buzzes on the table. He flicks open the phone. Unknown sender? "Do you know of a girl named Sakurai Yuuki?"
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Yoshino Shiori remembers how scared she was when Renjou walked near her with a clear vial he'd given several others girls prior to her. He smashed it on the ground.
"Listen to me," he whispered quickly. "You saw some scary stuff, but I don't want you to forget. I can't see you in the same way again. Please stick with me."
"R-Renjou?" His words lined up with her thoughts; she was petrified, but she didn't want to forget this other side to Renjou. She didn't want her amnesiac self to see him as the simple person she fell in love with. No, that was silly lust. This was love. "Okay..."
"Thanks," he said. "Thanks a bunch. You're an awesome person. You taught me some things about myself and my friend. I'm...not that afraid of others anymore. Can we be friends?"
Her face heated up badly. "Friends! You and me?!"
"Yeah! You're a comrade I'd hate to lose. Don't get too close...I could put you in danger - "
"That's fine with me!" she blurted. "This all happened because of your necklace. The danger's okay with me."
Renjou blushed. "Ugh. Don't remind me."
"This is amazing, I'll get to treasure your words forever in my memories," Yoshino said, wanting Renjou to know more of her, too. She was going to try hard to stop denying herself. "It's why I love the past the most."
Renjou frowned. "You like the - "
"Hotsuma!" called Usui from far away. "I need you over here!"
He started and sighed. "Well, it wasn't important anyway. Night, Yoshino. Or...Shiori?"
"M-My name?!" She had to have been red as Mars!
"C'mon, 'Yoshino' sounds so distant. We're closer than that."
"Yes, b-but, Renjou, I only wanted my husband to c-call me that..."
Renjou blushed, too. "Gah! You! Me! I forgot!"
"Forgot?"
"Nwvermind! Bye, Yoshino!" He turned and stomped to Usui.
Yoshino smiled to herself.
Today, she sleeps in late after her mother worried over her safety and was glad her daughter looks happier. She wakes up and checks her phone, eyes taking in her friend's texts a little more carefully.
One text message stands out among the worried texts: an anonymous Do you know of a girl named Giou Yuuki? If so, reply. Her safety is at stake.
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Despite doing more than enough sleeping as of late, Yuuki wishes she could make her eyes grow heavy and take her back into the world of slumber. She wants no dream nor nightmare; the absence of anything is best. Shuusei's piano melody repeats continuously in her mind, but it does not relax her.
She stares blankly out the window, the one showing her vibrant blue and white birds journeying across the color.
It's simply too much to move. Yuuki remembers the doors closing shut between her and Kanata - Reiga, and she fainted. She woke up for quick moments, but her drowsy mind could not think coherently. She has no idea what day it is.
Everyone is at home, safe. She can sense their presence nearby, very faint, possibly amplified by living within a magical home. She didn't receive the worst injuries on that night, yet her body thinks so. It's an effort to move her head to the colder side of the pillow after her ear goes numb, let alone move her entire body. But what hurts the most is her heart. She doesn't want to remember the betrayal - she wants to hide under her covers forever.
That wouldn't be fair to the others. They're dying for a new world. I can't hide for eternity.
With a bitter taste in her mouth, she musters up any lingering energy and gets out of bed. Rolling into the warm area her body was in, Sodom as a little furball continues to snore. Poor buddy must be exhausted.
She decides a cold bath will awaken her. Feel the frigid waters over her skin and flesh gives her goosebumps and makes her teeth chatter. Her skin turns bright red from the temperature. The crystal blue water starts to remind her of -
Yuuki gets out the water with her not warm body, dries herself, and quickly slips into casual clothes. It's much better than the white yukata she wore before reminding her of that dream -
She brushes her still wet hair and hopes the monotony distracts her. Soon, she grows bored and gets out the bathroom.
"Yukkiiii! You're awaaaake!"
She stops. Who's voice is that? That high-pitched, childish voice?
Something runs unto her, snaking its arms around her waist and pressing its head into her stomach. Surprised, she puts a hand on its fluffy mane. A little boy? Where? Her fingers brush against something not common to little boys. Yuuki takes it in two fingers and peers closer.
It's an ear. A moving ear with a regulated temperature. On a little boy -
"St-ooop, Yukki! That hurts a bit, you know..."
She lets go. "U-Uh, who are y-you?" Her voice soft and exhausted.
"Eh? Who else? Sodom is Sodom!"
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5760 minutes.
Or an easier to handle unit: 96 hours. Four days.
Four days had Yuuki been resting. It wasn't notable at first. The Zweilt had a job to do even though Yuuki was currently unconscious. They made sure Ashley's barrier was demolished, every person had returned to normal and forgot the experience, and begun to heal themselves. Kaoru slept in the hospital room once again, with Doctor Isuzu eagerly grabbing his hazmat suit. Shuusei, Hotsuma, and Yuuki were also dealt with rather quickly. Hotsuma was mainly in his room, sleeping, eating, or playing games as he healed. Shuusei decided to navigate through the mansion's more isolated rooms and hid away to avoid their inevitable conversation. Tooko and Tsukumo had many comrades to worry about and had school that following Friday.
It's the eve of the third day when they all come together for a meeting to discuss the success of their recent quest. At the end, Takashiro called Luka out on his unnatural coldness. He explained that Yuuki still sleeps.
Since the rest were mostly healed thanks to their Zweilt bodies, Yuuki still hadn't woken up. She had no major wound, yet it was beginning to seem that emotional damage is more potent than physical.
On the afternoon of the fourth day slowly transitioning into five days, the Guardians crowd around her room.
Tooko has her arms hugging her body loosely. "Poor Yuuki. She has to wake up. This isn't a repeat of Ashley, right? Luka, can't you go in there and check?"
The Duras stands farthest away from the others. Purple sparks decorates his body occasionally. "No. I can't keep seeing her face without thinking she's dead."
Tooko frowns more upon his words.
Tsukumo planted his arm on the wall and presses his head on it. "I hope she isn't having nightmares. I wish I really could parole her dreams..."
Hotsuma has his hands folded tightly across his chest, one parts annoyed and angry and scared. The mix of emotions only makes him more frustrated. He gets it now; first he assumed these feelings for Yuuki he's had were just his gratefulness for her compassion. Presently, the only thing hurting her is herself. He wants her to be safe. She is not. He can't stand it, stand it, stand it.
This again, he thinks, fists shaking. This feeling, I've had it before. With him. I. Want. Her. Safe.
"What can we do?!" he shouts, hoping for an answer. "What're we supposed to do?! It's like the past all over again! She's sleepin' and we don't know what's happenin' - "
"I'm sorry," Shuusei interrupts, his quiet voice shaking slightly. "I should have comforted her better. Perhaps she wouldn't be sleeping. I'm the one who saw the betrayal. She's horribly wounded and I've done nothing."
Hotsuma, seeing his partner's sudden weakness, terrifies him, but in order to convey that emotion, he shouts angrily. "Don't go puttin' that blame on yourself! What are you, me?"
Shuusei quietly broods, not comforted in the slightest.
Tachibana, wondering where all his residents wondered off to, bounds up the stairs and blinks at the people who mope in front of Yuuki's room. Their melancholy feels like a thousand suns suddenly silenced. The supervisor clears his throat.
"What are you doing?" chides Tachibana, making gestures a teacher would. "All these bad vibes could be make her sleep for longer! Cheer up!"
...it seems the moping crowd doesn't hear him.
Tachibana sways like a leaf in the wind.
Their devotion to Yuuki, the blood of the Zweilt...that's the cause of this. This is a first seeing this so up close and personal. Although...it feels dismal.
As their superintendent, he still has a duty to make sure his residents are okay. "Hey, everyone - "
"What's that?" Tsukumo says, voice hushed, ears picking up something that he could only hear.
There's too little time for anyone to get out a "what" for there's a scream and a thud within Yuuki's room. All of the people standing before her door hear the sound, and, with a moment's look of fear, burst through her door, then through the bedroom door.
In front of Yuuki's bed - completely disheveled by little feet jumping - and on the floor, is a dark-skinned boy with bluish-black hair. His outfit is simple: a no-sleeved shirt with shorts and armbands, a collar wrapped around his neck. Though the human-looking boy has rather inhuman parts, such as ears and a tail.
He's rubbing his head and muttering ow and perks up when he hears Luka call, "Sodom?"
Sodom's face goes bright. "Maaaster! Look, look, look, Yukki's awake! She's awake!"
"What? That really is Sodom?"
Completely confused and somewhat fascinated, Yuuki stands a few steps away from the bed in clothes: a modest shirt and skirt with pale yellows. Her skin looks freezing and her hair looks mostly wet, but Yuuki seems okay.
Multiple people call her name with every amount of adoration and fear in their bodies. Yuuki blushes at their concern. "I'm glad we're all okay, even after what happened..."
Her family and friends all look so worried. She looks them over as they take in her wakefulness. Her eyes meet Hotsuma's and Luka's, and she has to look away before she could register their concern. She still isn't over that night yet.
Tooko quickly steals her into an embrace that locks Yuuki's arms in place. Tsukumo joins in, too. Yuuki smiles at the amount of relief that are on their faces.
"I'm so glad you're awake," Tooko murmurs. "We've missed you. You're okay now, right?"
Yuuki looks out the window. "I feel really rested. So, I've been asleep for a long time, huh?"
"Four days, almost five," Tooko replies. "You were really beginning to scare us. Next time we should make you an alarm clock," she chides with a smile.
Yuuki barely pays attention. Her mind is everywhere and nowhere at once. "Kaoru's not here?"
"That bloody idiot's knocked out," Hotsuma mumbles. "Again."
"To be fair," Shuusei adds, "he took a lot of damage. Reisen is very good at tanking hits. Scarily so, even. But I don't understand why he would allow himself to bleed so much. Was he showing off for you, Yuuki?"
"W-Wait, what does that mean? His bleeding?"
"His powers are linked to his blood. It isn't wise to lose that amount, though."
"His blood can really hurt Duras. That's it, right?"
"No, not it. See, Reisen's ability isn't the ability to kill Duras." He starts slowly, deciding to tell her the truth and hope she'll connect two and two together. "The ability is him having super purified blood that's lethal to anyone that isn't himself. His blood is very important for his person. Do you know what for? It's the reason he can take a hit so well."
Tooko and Tsukumo let go, uncertain about Shuusei's decision. Hotsuma shows this uncertainty as well. Luka observes Yuuki closely with Sodom as a little furball sleeps on his shoulder from exhaustion.
The girl assumed the blood softened the damage from a hit. That's why he could continue to stand up after being hit - until his stamina ran out. But she says, "What for?"
"Reisen's blood is purified. Despite the horrors his blood can bring and how terrifying it looks while he's covered in it, his blood constantly heals him whenever it touches him. That's the reason Reisen was unconscious for those days: overusing his power."
Oh...
There's someone else with a healing ability like hers. But his ability affected only himself and hurt others. While hers healed everyone else, in the process of...hurting...herself...
The Light of God and the Blood of God do not sound like opposites, but they are. Why would the person who blessed them all with these abilities create such a direct opposite of it? She's too scared to ask; they may just close her out again.
Yuuki needs to find this information herself.
Deep in her thoughts, she looks to the ring she retrieved from Kaoru. How odd it was for her to summon a shield like that. What could that mean? What had she done? The ring on her finger still radiates importance. Why had Shuusei given her this ring if it belonged to Kaoru? She knows the boy is more familiar with the betrayer than her. He would have given him this ring.
That's it - she'll give him the ring and ask him questions. He may be upset she took it without permission, however he may be willing to answer her. Kaoru isn't the type to follow the rules, fortunately.
Yuuki excuses herself and races to Kaoru's room, already knowing where he rests, with the most energy she's had all day. She races past a startled Tooma, nearly crashes into Kureha Aya, and stops at his bedside once again.
Kaoru looks peaceful and blood-free. She grabs his hand and her skin starts to sting. Not entirely blood-free; seems the boy hadn't been able to have a purification bath yet.
She ignores the pain and wakes him up. Unlike her, he snaps awake then relaxes. "It's you."
Yuuki notices his lack of worry. He didn't have to wait for her to wake up. It couldn't have been on purpose, right?
"What do you want? Why so out of breath? Why so cold? You feel like a walking corpse."
Letting go, she sits on the edge and takes off the ring. "This is yours - "
His glare cuts her off. "How did you get that?"
"I - I took it. I wanted to clean it off, but I never got the time."
"Well?" he says.
"Huh?"
"There must be a reason you're giving this to me," he explains with sudden patience.
"I have a few questions..."
"You want answers from me? Oh boy, your standards are low." He rolls his eyes, not directed at her. "Okay, what's up?"
"Um, okay. Shuusei told me what your powers are. It's the opposite of mine." He nods. "And this ring...feels important. It summoned a shield. I was wondering if this could be your ring, but it's so dirty..."
"My ring is here." He digs into his purple jacket's pocket and pulls out the silver loop, his name engraved onto the surface.
"What - then whose ring is this?"
"My partner's. He's dead now." Yuuki freezes. "It's been a long time. I'm over it."
"I'm so sorry, I..."
"I said I'm over it." His face is perfectly blank. "Want to hear a story about him?"
"Uh...um...sure." She hopes that this is the way he copes with his loss.
Kaoru leans back, gazing at the ceiling. "Once upon a long time ago, I had a younger brother. We were close. Twins had nothing on us..."
Nothing...
Kaoru prided himself with being a great big brother. His younger brother was almost twenty years younger than him, and he felt it was his responsibility to help his brother mature.
So, naturally, the two of them shared a room. The older was always busy keeping their village safe just as much as their father did, and the younger had big shoes to fill.
Kaoru was a little disheartened to see how his brother feared something he thought was stupid: the dark.
Nighttime hit. A bright orange from the fire outside was sufficient in lighting their room. This night, due to the danger of Duras apparent in surrounding villages, the fire was quenched to keep their village in the dark and hidden.
But his little brother, understanding the need, could not stand to be in a dark room. Not even under the protectful gaze of his brother. His brother decorated the room with all kinds of candles and flames, making it as bright as day. Kaoru entered the room and his eyes widened. His brother looked at him with glee.
"I cannot sleep with all this light," Kaoru stated. "Most of these must go."
"No! I cannot sleep if it is too dark!" he replied stubbornly, normally being a pushover.
"You do not need this amount of light."
"I do! I need the light!"
"Get rid of these lights."
"No."
Kaoru understood that his brother could have very vivid nightmares, however he slept in the room with him. He did not want to move anywhere else besides being next to his brother.
Unable to come to a compromise, the two handled their arguments with a simple fight.
Not the kind to bruise or bleed, but moves to merely hurt the opponent or run one's stamina down. Kaoru called it wrestling. The two of them preformed elaborate, extensive moves on each other that began to hurt the more times they were hit.
His younger brother surprised him; he hook his arm around Kaoru's neck and used his momentum to send his brother to the floor. Kaoru banged his head on hard wood while his brother cheered. Pride a little hurt, Kaoru responded quite reasonably: he launched his brother out the window and into the bushes.
Kaoru waited for him to come crawling back, but it startled at the quiet sobs. Something like that never hurt the boy, so what happened? Below the window, his brother isn't harmed, but he weeps.
"Why do you cry?" Kaoru said worriedly.
"It - it is dark," he whined. "I am terrified. I hate the da-dark."
Kaoru quickly pulled him inside, brushed away the dirt, and sighed. "Fine. Fine. You may be allowed to keep this room as bright as fireworks, however I will have my revenge."
While his brother dozed in bliss, Kaoru remained away for ten hours, until the sun rose, his brother woke up, thankful Kaoru didn't turn off the lights while he slept.
Kaoru told him immediately to leave. He turned off the lights, closed away the sun, and slept in the darkness.
"I miss those times," Kaoru murmurs. "Was nice having someone believe in me."
"I believe in you," she responds automatically, sincerely.
"No," he smiles. "You can't. You don't know me at all."
"W-Well, then let me - "
"No. I've overstayed my welcome. I'm not living here. This is only a place to go when I'm not at my best, got it? Can't stand being here."
"You're leaving?"
"Yes."
"I...I have questions, Kaoru."
"There's nothing more I can tell you. I told you about the ring. Told you I'll protect you, not those Zweilt. There's nothing else you need to know about me."
She feels more confused than ever before. "There is! I had a dream, and you were in it, and you killed me!"
Her voice echoes. She didn't mean to shout.
Suddenly, his demeanor grows cold. "So what?"
Yuuki...is stunned speechless for a moment. "'So what?' What was that about? That was a memory, wasn't it?"
"Pretty straightforward one, too. What's your deal?"
Why is he acting so nonchalant? His behavior feels synonymous to their first meeting.
"Y-You killed me!" she sputters. "You look at me, knowing you killed me..."
"I'm failing to see your point."
By now, Kaoru is out the bed, stretching.
"The point is, why? Why did you do it?"
"If you know that I killed you, you know why. Obviously I wasn't killing you for fun, Yuuki. I thought you were smarter than this."
"That's your story?" Yuuki gasps. "You killed me because I went mad. And you have no ill feelings about that? Why were you the one to kill me? Why did my life end that way?"
Kaoru pulls the window open and looks back, exasperated. "Ill feelings about killing you? None, really. Why me? Who else would? Not those sensitive idiots. Your life ends that way because of your power. Anything else?"
"Kaoru, those aren't answers. Answers a-are supposed to clarify things. You're leaving pieces out and it's only more confusing!"
"Those are answers. And despite my personality, those are all facts. If an answer isn't satisfying you, it's not what you're looking for."
"What else could there be?" Her patience is running out. She is emotional and desperate while he remains cool-headed and in control.
"I dunno," he replies, slipping out the window. "You asked a question to get a answer. If you don't need answers, don't ask questions." He leaves. Silence picks up.
Nothing had been accomplished at all. Nothing is any closer to connecting than when she woke up. No one wants to help her - no one but herself.
Yuuki is this close to giving up when the door opens and Tsukumo enters. "Got a moment, Yuuki?"
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"Reisen is gone," Shuusei says blandly. The Zweilt guardians sit in the common room. They were forced to stay there as Yuuki left. Tooko and Tsukumo, though, used their ears to pick up on the conversation.
"What kinda conversation was that?!" Hotsuma roars. "Tachibana, you better have a good reason why we couldn't stop 'im!"
"I told you he wasn't going to give away our secrets that quickly!" Tachibana whimpers, shielding himself from Hotsuma's fists. "And if she asked you all, you'd make her feel guilty for asking! Kaorin simply doesn't care."
"Still!"
"Why did she have that memory?" Tooko mumbles. "That's one of the worst she could have gotten. What can we do now? Yuuki needs us! As of now, she's at her lowest point of confidence and we have to help her! What can we do?"
The Zweilt guardians trade awkward looks.
"Nothing?" Tooko groans.
"I don't...want to hurt her by accident," Hotsuma says. "I'm not good with words, so..."
"I've done enough," Shuusei states, disgusted at himself.
Tooko looks at her brother who appears worried. "Okay. You and me, then. I'm sure once the other guardians come, we'll have more help with this, Tsukumo!"
Luka, who'd been silent until now, says, "What are you two going to do?"
"Talk to her," Tooko replies. "Let her know she's not alone."
"I can do that myself," responds the Duras.
"I know, but, um, right now, Yuuki is scared of you, at least a little bit," Tooko stammers. "Not you, the pain of betrayal. She trusts us a bit more."
Luka stares dangerously at her. "Let me talk to her."
"No! Give us a chance, Luka! I - I want a chance to have her rely on me, as selfish as it sounds. You're amazing and we're just silly humans, but Yuuki is a silly human, too. She's not that easy to predict."
Tooko relaxes when he looks away.
"...don't you trust me to heal her heart?"
"I do. Without a shadow of a doubt. But after this battle and her sleeping, I'm slipping away from her. Can't I reach her again, one more time?"
Luka meets her gaze once more before closing his eyes. "This is an act of selfishness...that I know too well." He stalks off.
Tooko starts to follow him, to make sure she didn't hurt him, when Tsukumo grabs her sleeve. "I'll handle Yuuki."
She smiles and chases after Luka.
Meanwhile Hotsuma and Shuusei trade a look.
"It'll be okay," says the older. "I trust they'll save her more than us."
"But we can't save ourselves," the wild boy mutters.
Tachibana fans himself. "Everyone's so heated and depressed! What am I supposed to do?! Okay, Hotsu-kun and Shuu-kun, you go talk it out. Tachibana will perform espionage to see if they'll be okay. Ready? Break!" The superintendent scatters off.
The remaining pair sigh in unison.
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Tsukumo guides Yuuki to the garden where rabbits live. He places one in her lap, watching her enjoy the small animal, before saying, "It's okay to talk about it." The girl pauses. "I'll listen. Whether it's about Reiga or someone else."
Yuuki turns shy. Her first impulse is to speak with Luka, but she's so ashamed that she's doubting him and can't stop. Even for all the things he had done, she doubts him. And about Reiga -
"I don't want to talk about that. About any of that stuff," she mumbles.
"...your heart sounds disturbed. I want to alleviate some of the disturbance."
Yuuki looks to his pained expression. "How could I forget you're sensitive to these things? Tsukumo...your kindness outshines mine."
"Hm?" The boy is unbelieving.
"It does. Your kindness is permanent. It doesn't allow for you to doubt others, only trust in them completely. I think that's wonderful." She smiles.
Tsukumo plucks at the grass. "...Shuusei told me it was bad to be too kind. He said if I didn't learn to doubt others, I couldn't understand how great they where."
"Huh?"
"...it...was something...like...Doubt means you don't believe in something. The opposite is faith. Having faith is great, though if you learn to doubt someone, you'll be able to recognize their flaws and their true self much more than unwavering faith. Having unwavering faith means you'll be supporting an idealized version of someone, I think."
"I grew up thinking it was wrong to doubt the ones I love," she argues gently. "Can it truly be okay to not believe in someone? How is that kind? It sounds manipulative and dishonest."
"I dunno what it feels like to doubt others. It's so much easier trusting in everyone. I get worried when they lie about if they're okay, yet I continue to have faith. I can't say I understand his words."
The breeze picks up light debris like grass and has it float high into the sky until it is invisible. "Tsukumo, Luka trusts me. He has unwavering trust in me, and I can't do the same."
"Well...I think he's doubted you in the past, when you met him last battle. I know with his cold mask it must have been difficult to believe in anyone. Because he believes in you, you must have challenged his doubts and exceeded his trust."
"Oh. Ah..." Like that, the guilt in her stomach eases. It's...strange to get used to doubting others, but it's okay. Luka wouldn't be cross and disappointed. "I've been avoiding him. I must have hurt his feelings, Tsukumo."
The white-haired boy watches her rise. "Yuuki?"
"I need to talk to him," she explains. "I need to apologize, and...wow, I kind of..." miss him, really badly. She shakes her head. "Thank you."
The corners of his mouth lift up. "I'm glad I could help you."
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"Hey, Shuusei," Hotsuma calls, playing pool by himself, "what's your favorite tense?"
His partner sitting off to the side reading the popular novel looks up. "Tense?"
"Past, present, future...y'know."
"Why is this on your mind?"
"It's cuz of Yoshino. She said somethin' weird. She likes being in the past most cuz of...that doesn't matter. What d'you think?"
"Ah, I agree. Past it is."
Hotsuma hmphs, knocking a ball into a hole. "Tense don't matter to me. Aren't they all important?"
"Important? No. The future doesn't exist. It's a hypothetical tense that cannot be observed or measured. The closest we have is 'prediction,' but that's not the same as being in the future."
His partner barely grasps the meaning of his words. "Well, I hate the future for a different reason: it's got nothing to do with my life. Dumb adult say preparing for your future, but what's that even mean? The future is always tomorrow. You can't reach it. You can only hope it's good, and I hate that uncertainty."
"I see." Shuusei has no complaints there. "And about the past?"
"I hate that, too," he states.
"Why?"
"Cuz it's dumb. It's made up of a bunch things that's already happened. And people can lie about the past. Plus, memories go bad after a bit and start makin' up things that don't exist. It's about as unreliable as the dumb future.
"That's why I like the present the best. It's the only real thing I can see. It can't lie. I exist and everythin' I do is meaningful to me."
He knocks two balls into a corner hole.
"...I see where you're coming from," Shuusei says. "I still disagree. I can't stand the present. It's much more attractive to be within the fantasies of the past."
"Are sure about that? It's ain't cuz you just hate your present circumstances?"
"Hm." Shuusei forces himself to stay stoic and to respond. "My past isn't one of happy memories. My future is already predetermined. I'm not being picky."
Hotsuma looks suspicious but says nothing to question it. "Is that why you're in all those clubs? For happy memories you can dream about once they're in the past? That's stupid. What about me? Am I worth more to you in your memories or before you now?"
Shuusei places the book down. "You know it's both."
"Both?" Hotsuma hits the white ball, but it fails to hit any other balls. "No, Shuusei, this is science. Let's say a thing can't be in two states."
"It could," he retorts sarcastically. "Schrodinger's cat."
"Cat what?"
"Nevermind."
"Shut it, smart alec. If you could have me in one state, what is it? What am I worth to you?"
"It's simple. I prefer the present you."
"So why do you keep avoidin' me? Skippin' breakfast, working late - I swear if that witch hadn't grabbed Yuuki, you'd a gone solo like that bloody idiot!"
Did I fall into a trap? "I may like the past, but I could never abandon the present if you didn't." He reaches for the book, for some kind a shield to slow Hotsuma.
Suddenly Hotsuma is right before him slamming the book down and taking the glasses off Shuusei. Greenish-hazel eyes meet.
"Are you mad at me? No, you ain't. Are you in pain? Ya said you ain't. You wouldn't be doin' this if you were happy, so why do you keep me away, Shuusei?"
"Hotsuma - "
"No, no more sneaky crap you do! Tell me!"
Shuusei has no choice. "...it's regret. I feel regret."
Hotsuma is stunned silent.
"The emotion that guides me is my own regret. Why? It's this scar..." Shuusei tugs at the frabic closest to the stain. "I hate that it hurts you. How can I be your partner if I cause you to hate yourself? I'm not strong, Hotsuma. I need you. I couldn't fix the damage this scar made, I could only rely on Yuuki's strength to save you. And it did. If I couldn't save you for yourself, am I worthy of being your partner?"
Hotsuma's eyes are the first to soften. "Ah, Shuusei, what did I do...?"
"That's all there is. If I slowly fade from your life, I would no longer hurt you. You'd rely on Yuuki and become great again. The plan was supposed to be perfect, but I underestimated one thing."
"What?" he mumbles, more to Shuusei's plan than the enigmatic statement.
"I underestimated how much you still like me," he says with a bitter smile. "I expected for you to relax in my absence. I assumed it took you a while to grow accustomed to the change, but I was mistaken. Your love for me persists in this life as well, doesn't it? Despite our circumstances..."
"A-Ah...Shuusei...you...idiot. Why the hell wouldn't I care about you?!" He seems angry, but Shuusei knows how worried and scared he is underneath. Hotsuma is still a child. "You were gonna disappear from me! Why would I let you go?! I care about Yuuki, but I care about you in a different way! That won't change if Yuuki's here, and she can't replace you in my life! Ah, geez..." He looks away, anxiety gnawing at his frustration. "It's that dumb scar's fault! It's trying to tear us apart! I won't let it!"
"The scar isn't sentient," Shuusei says, concerned Hotsuma might attack a scar in fear. "It's not capable of doing anything."
"Uh, no, it is doin' somethin'. I hate it! Look!" Hotsuma places his hand on Shuusei's chest, making the gap between them small than it already was.
"I'm done be controlled by that scar. I'm sorry that I was hurt by it and made you doubt being my partner. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I was...crazy to be so selfish that day. No more. This scar isn't our selfishness, it's our love and bond connectin' ourselves to each other, got it? Never again do I want to feel like I'm losin' you, Shuusei."
He felt scared to almost see Yoshino die, felt awestruck see her protect Shuusei and him. Yoshino, though her eyes were dark, loves him and wanted to protect him despite her limitations. Hotsuma can't imagine being in that position: see someone you love hurt themselves. It's terrifying him. A louder voice can't hide his fear of seeing his partner hurting himself, albeit in a much more insidious way, and wanting to die.
Why did it take so long for him to realize this truth? He's such an idiot.
"You're insane," Hotsuma mumbles. "How can you deal with me for so long?"
Shuusei chuckles. Love can do creepy things. "Nevermind that." He turns away with an attitude. "What's was with tha monologue of yours? Have you been watching romantic comedies? The amount of ham and cheese within your sentences could made all of us lunch."
"Wh-What?!" Hotsuma tries to fight the blush on his face. "Screw you! I mean every one of them words and I ain't taking it back!"
"I know that. Couldn't you have made it less embarrassing to listen to? Oh, and since you were shouting, the whole house may have heard it - "
"I don't care!" he whines. "I'm worried about our relationship!"
"Ah, yes, dear."
"Thank you..." Hotsuma replays his response. "You think you're slick, don'cha?"
Teasing this overpassionate idiot is a treat I can't miss. "Can I have my glasses back now? I hope you didn't break them."
Hotsuma stares in the fist holding the glasses. "Oh, um, it's a little dirty, but its okay..."
"Good enough." Hotsuma places the glasses in his palm. "Thanks."
"It's just a pair of glasses, no need to be so formal," Hotsuma says calmly, already relaxing.
"Not just for the glasses, Hotsuma." Without explaining anymore, Shuusei continues his book, suddenly interested in the plot.
.
.
Tooko is glad Luka himself to be caught. The man can make himself sparse when need be. He gives up the chase near the gardens.
"Go be with Yuuki," he says.
"Not until I know you're okay," she refuses.
"I don't matter."
"Stop lying."
Luka sighs. "Do you not trust me to keep her safe anymore? First Yuuki hesitates around me ever since Reiga, her eyes are doubting me, and you're the same now as well."
"Doubting you? Why would she doubt you?" How could Yuuki just assume Luka could betray her? Are there some pieces to the story she's missing?
"It was Reiga's fault. He told her of my first betrayal to defect to your side. She is scared of me now." Luka leans against the wall, his mask weakening and showing his despair. "I hate that. I love her so much and I want her to believe in me again."
Tooko's face heats up as tears begin to form. "No way...That's not fair. Please, Luka, you have to tell her she's not alone and that you love her - both now and in your past lives. You truly love her soul."
His face darkens; the shadows around him threaten to swallow him whole. "I'm not going to tell her we were lovers in a last life. Ever."
Hearing that shocks Tooko's very core. What? As someone who believes in trusting one's heart and how love is a divine force capable of stopping this dreadful cycle, she cannot comprehend his words. "B-But, Luka! Doesn't that hurt you? She may not ever know, so you have to tell her! That love still must exists, I know it does!"
"It could still exists, but even if she were to love in this life, I will not tell her of her previous lives. My memories with her...there are very pleasant memories and then there are memories that will crush her soul. I don't want to give her that pain."
"So you stand by her side without her knowing everything. Doesn't that hurt you, Luka?" Her nosy side is coming out. Her ears strain to hear the rhythm of his heart.
"All I want is to be by her side in this life," he states.
...she really can't comprehend his words. She guesses she lacks empathy. His words sound like a confusing mess. He loves Yuuki, still does, still did, but refuses to let Yuuki know of their love because of the pain of remembering. The reasoning sounds simple, so why can't she comprehend it?
It reminds her of the car ride so many days ago, after Walpurgis Night. He told her she couldn't comprehend some things about Yuuki.
Still, following her heart, she can't help to think of Luka as her previous lover, unrelated to the Duras. He had the same dark eyes and cold exterior, but as soon as Tooko forced her way through that barrier and reached his soul, she understood how much love was within him, all for her back then. Even Tsukumo couldn't stop telling her how pure their boy's love was, and he liked that of her lover.
And when he died, without being reincarnated, Tooko sobbed, of course, yet she was not surprised fate killed him. Any relationship a Zweilt has without their partner is cursed to suffer.
Who designed the world this way? Why does it wish to break everyone's souls into nothingness?
"Ah, it's you two, Tooko and Luka!"
Yuuki and Tsukumo (bunny in hand) come up running and stop. Yuuki seems much more energetic.
Tooko watches Luka console her, hesitant at first, but soon relaxing as he notices she cares about him despite her doubts.
Tooko squeezes the shoulder of her brother. He smiles back.
"I still want to ask you something. Lots of things, really," Yuuki says more seriously. "I'm really worried about your betrayal. Can you tell me about that, Luka?"
"Yes," he agrees. "I don't regret it."
Tsukumo drags Tooko away to give them privacy...and to eavesdrop.
"It started a long time ago. My ancestor doomed my clan to become sinners and slaves all because he sold the names of his kind. Every Duras has a true name, known only to that Duras. That name allows anything and anyone to be controlled and used, even without the Duras's consent.
"That was the case for me. I was given this scar, Brand Zess, to mark me as a slave. I fell into the hands of the Demon King, the one who ruled Infernus and other shades of the world. He was a god. Nothing, no one could hurt him."
Luka grips the double Xs on his arm, hidden by the cloth of his jacket. Brand for the seal, Zess meaning sinner. Yuuki starts to feel sick by the words so she gets closer to Luka.
"He took me as his slave. I hated it. But I never complained. I grew up assuming the worst. I never thought at once it was wrong, until you told me. I took every foul thing that came with being his slave without complaint. From the outside, it would only seen I was his bodyguard. Why would he need a bodyguard?" he adds absentmindedly.
"Luka..." She doesn't know how to continue, so she decides actions work better. She rests her head in his chest, feeling his heartbeat. Luka combs her long hair with his fingers.
"I betrayed them to live a life with you. You made me your servant in a past life where I remained until now. I will never betray you, Yuuki. You are my reason to continue to live and love without turning a hallow shell that killed with apathy as I once was."
"I don't understand. Why mark the entire clan for years to come with that red stain?" she mumbles to herself more than Luka. "That's so cruel."
"This scar is originally brown. A very few have red like mine, courtesy of the Demon King."
In that moment, he remembers the exact moment the Demon King had him lying on his bed, disrobed, and played with his scar. It was a big game to him where the king was the winner and Luka was a pawn.
"Luka...my cute, Luka," he purred over his body. "We will seal this special contract with my blood. How about I dye your Brand Zess?" The Demon King grazed the tip of his finger on his sharpened fangs, a trail of blood sliding down it. Some said his blood tasted like bitter red wine; its taste so addicted, a Duras who drank it would immediately become drunk shortly before dying at its potency. At this moment, Luka knew - not counting the smile playing at his lips - this was going to hurt.
Yuuki looks up to Luka and see his eyes are focused on something far away, his nails digging into the scar with disgust. "Luka, what's wrong? Please don't hurt yourself." She reaches for his scar, hands meeting the warmth of his fingers, the poisonous seal, and his blood, a past flowing into her mind without her consent.
The King smiled further at the younger's glare. "Don't worry. You should be able to withstand the pain." He pressed his cold finger onto the wound. The King's face was so covered in shadows all Luka could see was his toothy smirk. "Always remember: you are mine." The seal began to glow a sickening black color. Luka could feel something insidious entering his body like a parasite. "Every strand of hair. Every drop of blood."
This was a blood seal, a symbol of control and possession. The most intimate of bonds. Rarely did any of kind were "worthy" enough for a blood did not feel honored to be made into someone's toy, but he gave up fighting back. It would do him no good to be rebellious. He would surrender to his master's will, what ever it may be...
"St-Stop! Don't think of that!"
Luka is startled to the present, Yuuki supporting him more than himself. His body is weak. He can smell his own blood leaking from the fresh cuts. All he can think of is the horrible feelings of that day. The past threatens to consume him.
But the present is alluring as well. His head is buried in Yuuki's neck and the waves of her hair he loves so much. He closes his eyes and breathes deeply. Her scent purifies the corruption in his body, just as much as her embrace and her words.
"I'm here for you. We're in this together, Luka."
He opens his eyes, unsure of who's voice he heard: the Yuuki of now, or the Yuuki of the past. If Yuuki said that in the present, that would mean the two sides of Yuuki said identical quotes.
That remains unchanging. No matter what she faces, she still cares for me. I am sorry I can't escape this curse, Yuuki. So long as this scar remains, I'm not truly all yours.
"H-Hey, you heard me, right? Say something...are you okay?"
He says without thinking, "Thank you."
She starts. Her pulse picks up; he feels it against his cheek, where it rests on her neck. "F-For what? Really, you've done so much more for me. This is so small in comparison. I even...ran into your memories without asking. I'm so sorry, I know it wasn't my business to see the scar - "
"You make me able to live," he murmurs. "That's all I could ask for."
"...those words are so sad. Why is it so difficult for you to live?"
"...it never is so long as you're here."
Yuuki hugs him tighter. It feels like Shuusei's reliance on Hotsuma. But worse, in her opinion, for Luka is bound to her by a contract to act as her servant and she does not want to have him by her side like that. She wants a genuine relationship with him, not forced upon a seal she no longer remembers.
And if it were to disappear...? Will he stay...?
"If I'm your master now," she whispers, "I'm a bad influence."
Luka, not knowing where she's going with this, says nothing in confusion.
"We're both afraid to be alone," she clarifies, smile in her voice.
.
.
Fujiwara Isuzu emerges from his room after sleeping for 18 solid hours only to see Tachibana skipping down the hall. "What're you so happy for?" he groans, scratching chin stubble.
"Oh, it's only because my mansion residents are all happy for the first time!" Tachibana beams. "It's all because of Yuu-chan! I thank her very much!"
"Oh, good news. I hate it when they're upset," Doctor Isuzu says with a tired smiled. "Wait a minute, how did she get the betrayer happy?"
"Um...he's not here?"
"...eh?"
"He left a long time ago. So you couldn't have examined him, Doctor," Tachibana says sadly.
"What? That's no problem." He sparkles. "I already examined him! It wasn't consenting - and sort of unconscious - but, but, but! the great I have discovered some great secrets I've been working on."
Tachibana sweatdrops. "Doctor, don't make a habit of that."
"It's alright. He'll probably never know, Tachibana. So, what's for breakfast?"
"You mean dinner."
"What? So late?"
"I requested he make all our favorites to celebrate happiness! Remember it: May 22nd!"
Doctor Isuzu decides to commit it to memory. "Why not?"
.
.
Takashiro hears Monday's news on phone at his office.
Good. Relations are improving. Kaoru is still himself. I doubt Yuuki can calm his storm. But there is peace for now.
He breathes deeply through his nose. What shall my next move be? Chess in real life is more skilful than the static pieces on the board: humans are wildly unpredictable and so is the world they live in.
Regardless, my first priority is Yuuki's safety and trust. If she fails to trust me, she'll go running to Giou Reiga, or the Kanata within him. She won't believe that boy was dead the moment Reiga took over.
My second priority would be the prophecy. It's almost time. His vision goes blurry. He blinks several times before it clears. Did you hear that? He looks down into his chest, as if speaking to something entirely. I can already feel myself weakening...
.
.
The moon is full within the lavender sky without fail. The moon hardly casts shadows within Reiga's castle, his realm and empire. He has already visited Infernus, home to Duras, before his arrival. It is quieter than in the past. Is that such a bad thing? The sounds were usually sounds of death and distress.
Reiga had walked up the stairs of a familiar castle now dusty and eroding. Inside, few Duras clean and repair, but none have the vigor to go all the way. The owner of the castle was both feared and revered. No one would simply walk into the domain freely.
Reiga traveled up the steps had dozens of times, but this being different. His body is still recovering. His blood no longer feels electrified by his energy, but diluted to a boring human. He stops at the highest point, Sith the common room where the ceiling can be reached by a dragon.
"I know you still live here," he called into the emptiness. "Come out, General Class loyal to me, Giou Reiga!"
Reiga opened the Key of Raziel and gazed around. Frost surrounded him by the time two Duras appeared. One was wearing a sultry version on the uniform and smiled with thick lips. Another hid his face with his long, red mane.
"Just you?" Reiga monotoned.
"The others either betrayed our Lord and gone off to fill their selfish desires, while the ones within here don't trust you quite so much," said the woman with arrogant eyes. "We've agreed to help you for our own agenda."
Reiga twisted his lip in disgust. "Which is?"
"I want to see the one I love most!" she moaned. "And he wishes to play with his human, as a disgusting man."
The man smirked. "Were those words supposed to hurt? If you continue insulting me, you'll only make yourself look stupid."
The woman scoffed. "I can hardly work with this brutal degenerate, so I'll work alone. You have more than just us, right?"
"Ashley, the twins."
"So nobody," she smiled.
"You're going to be relying on us heavily, Fowler," the man mocked.
"Only until I can get the Royal Class's help."
"Which one?" the woman says, suddenly fearful.
"Their strongest," he stated, enjoying the glimpse of fear on her face.
"That will never happen! Those Royals take all your energy to summon. Plus, they all hate your impureness. Y-You need us," the woman urged.
"I have a plan regarding that. As of now, I will preform the summoning spell on you two. Soon the Light of God will be within our grasp."
.
.
to be continued...?
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AN
Okay, here it is-long, yeah?
What do you get when you read too much The Picture of Dorian Gray and write?
...lots of long dialogue scenes and existential questions! And I'm pretty sure my writing is getting florid? Oops.
Right, I'll still write the "special" chapter, so don't treat this as a goodbye just yet. Let's see...Uzuki doesn't know what Walpurgis Night is so he calls it by its date. There's also more Tooko and Tsukumo because I really like writing those guys. Skipped the whole Yuuki scene Shuusei talks about because I didn't know how to fit it in w/o sounding like simple exposition. Weird...
Also, backstory time - two slices of it.
1) Yuuki talks to Kaoru, but get zilch answers. Except she did? Yes indeed, he killed her because she was at her last moments. But why was he the one to murder her? How could he garner the will to kill? WHO KNOWS
(too many game shows...)
2) I added his backstory as it being something to bind them together plus development...I guess the manga did is as some essential explanation, development, and exposition. Anyway, I achieved my goal 7 chapters later: making this scene more...useful(?).
If I'm crazy enough to continue until Kuroto and Senshirou, be warned: past-Yuuki scenes will be dropped significantly, at least until Elegy (I think?). There's a pretty good basis for past Yuuki, ergo it's unnecessary for the themes of the next chapt.