Thank you for your patience!

Chapter 14: Vow/Guilt

Satomi Rio knew that there is nothing he can do to put his overflowing emotions inside the box like a mask on his face. His smile, his voice, his heart and body; he desired possessively.
He made sure not to stay too close, he made sure not to hurt him more than he already have.

But such treasure right in front of him, how can he be stoic and calm. If he can, he would have already obtained that pure heart.

But Satomi knew...he knew that Shino's heart has already been placed under someone else...

Until now that he knows that truth is different within Shino's heart.

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"What was that...you wish..."

"To protect...to protect the one I love. And for that...I wouldn't mind losing my body, nor becoming a disgusting monster. Or I might not die...left alone in the world without anyone beside me." Gripping tightly, Shino smiled awkwardly at Satomi.
Satomi brought his hands to Shino's cold cheek, "Is that all for Sousuke? Will you do all that for him?"

Even though I feel for you this much, all you care about is Sousuke...Even so...Why do you need to die?...Why do you need to suffer?

"No..." Shino continued.

"Because...I Love you."

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"...eh..." Satomi's hands dropped, and his frozen heart of all years, broke with one sentence Shino just gave. He felt Shino's hands tremble in embarrassment. And his ears were beet red.
'Shino...loves me?...But...'
"But you loved Sousuke. More than your own life..." Satomi's eyes still couldn't believe it. But Shino answered in a whispered voice. "Because he was like my brother. To protect family you love is normal you know. I want to protect Sousuke, Hamaji and even my friends who suffered and will suffer. But you...You were different. More than a guardian. More than Satomi Rio I knew before. You were like a small light inside me that keeps me from losing my path..." Shino stood up and stood in front of Satomi. "Nii...Right? You were the one who stood beside me, held my hand, accepted without any hesitation. You even hurt yourself, because of me..." Tears fell one by one. Not knowing where to stop, his tears gradually increased. Satomi couldn't help but to embrace that fragile boy in his arms.

"Shino...Shino" Gently caressing his soft blue hair.

'How much did I yearn for this warmth?' Tightly, Satomi held the boy.

"Rio..."
"What is it?"
"I didn't really plan on this."
"What do you mean?"

"Shino?...Wha-"

The moment Satomi looked down, the boy in his arms were in beet red. Too embarrassing for him to stay in that position.
However, Satomi took the chance and softly pecked on Shino's small forehead.

"AH! That's so sneaky!"

Without a response, Satomi hugged him tightly, afraid to let go.

...

The moment felt long, like the time stopped just for them. No sound, smell of slight dust, and the orange warm light lit up the big white cross right in front of them.

"This is like a wedding...Especially with the white formal cloth you always wear..." Shino chuckled.

"Then...I will promise you right here and now. I humbly declare...No matter, life or death, I will never betray you. Whether you are different, or alone in a world...I will keep holding your hand, no matter where you go. Will you also take my hand...as a partner who will be with you life or death?"

Shino trembled with tears in his eyes. The eyes reflected the beautiful man knelled, holding Shino's trembling hands. So much happiness, an indescribable feeling piled up within his heart. With his shaken voice he replied.

"Yes...Yes, I will you idiot!" Shino jumped towards Satomi, hugging each-other once again.

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Back to the dogs and the guardian...(who never know what the two were doing...)

On the way back to the inn, everyone was quiet. Their heart was unsettling. Because of rage? Sadness? Who knows?
Especially the twins, Shinri and Banri. They did not know how to begin. They were once were Tamazusa's pawns... But after that Shino had brought light to the twins.

Suddenly one person, whose shadow had been hiding; spoke with the crowd of uneasiness.

"Why did you help Shino?" Definitely, it was spoken towards the twins. Everyone perked their ears at Shino's name.
"...Ao...san" Shinri traced off with the name of the spoken person.

"We were lost when we met you that time. We knew what we are doing weren't right. But all we could have done was to cling on to a hope. And SHE was the hope that time. We were too young back then...we couldn't do anything , so...powerless..." Shinri started. For Banri, he was absolutely silent. But holding Shinri's hand tightly.

"But after that we have accidentally dragged into some kind of barrier. After meeting you that is..."

"Barrier?" Shinobu nervously bundled into the conversation.

"Yes..." Shinri smiled at Shinobu. "It was some kind of a barrier...that we never seen before. It was cold and dark. Surrounding us was nothing but a darkness..."

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In the BARRIER the twins were dragged in...

"Hey! Where are we?" Banri cried out.
"I think we are trapped in some kind of a barrier...On top of that, this barrier is too strong for us to break it." Shinri calmly stated.
"What should we do? There's nothing in here..."
"...Wait...I can here something..." Shinri listened carefully...

"...ry...I'm...So...ry...S...rry..." A sound of a cry echoed through the darkness.

"Hey did you hear that? Like someone...sobbing?" Banri looked around.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of them like illusion. Shinri quietly pointed out towards Banri.
"I think it's coming from...that boy?"

The figure was on the ground on his knee. Sobbing, sobbing, sobbing.

The words were more audible, giving the twins easier to hear what he was saying.
"Mommy...mommy... I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." Repeating over and over like a boy's figure somehow gave the twins an heartache. Remembering they're past, sobbing like the boy who was right in front of them.

Remembering the pain, Banri looked away. While Shinri unexpectedly took a step closer to the boy. A thought crossed his mind...'Where have I seen him?..."

"What's wrong?" Shinri asked with a sweet voice; trying to not to scare the boy.
"..." All he received was a teary eyes of silence.
Shinri tried to touch the boy, but the boy backed away in fear. Giving Shinri a sudden surprise.
"...You...can't touch me...or else...(sob)..or else...(sob) You are going to die too." The tears overflowed from the boys eyes. Sobbing loudly.

Shinri couldn't understand the boy's words.
Die?...Who would ever expect such a joke?

"I won't die...see? I am healthy as you see." Shinri reassured. Smiling as natural as he can.

The boy's stiff shoulder relaxed.
"How can you smile so easily? Can you smile even if you aren't happy?" Shinri's smile disappeared from his face.
"..." He was completely speechless. The boy's eyes were looking through his heart. Digging that deep memory of his past.
"I can never smile. I cannot put a mask like you. I can never avert what I have done...like YOU DID..."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY YOU BRAT!" Banri stepped in loudly, pissed at the boy who insulted his brother. "Don't speak like you understand it. You can never understand our feelings. Don't say things if you don't know about u-" Shinri interrupted his brother. "...but why?"
"Let's hear you speak boy..." With an unwavering smile, he handed the words to the boy.

The boy continued.
"How many people have you killed? How many beings did you sacrifice? How many things did you break? You were scared to lose anything else, thats why you lingered on to a stupid hope that just appeared in front of you...and chose to sacrifice something else to protect something. But you should realize that you are not alone. Look by your side, and who do you see? you already had hope, you just averted your eyes." The boy looked his eyes with sadness.
Shinri glanced at Banri who stood there. They were always together, no matter what happened, they trusted each other.
Frown on his face, Shinri stood up with anger. "That's right! I was scared...I was scared to lose what I have right now. But what can I have done? He was what I wanted to protect!...But how can I? No matter what we wished no one helped us that time!" Shinri shouted, for the first time in his life. Banri, surprised by the sudden blast.

"I never said you were wrong. I said to not to avert your eyes from everything."

Shinri and Banri looked at the boy with confusion.

The boy stood up. He was shivering with sadness. He had no tears but his eyes reflected some light, he was almost about to cry. His eyes was never directed at the twins; instead, he looked afar. He spoke.

"I can hear them. The cry, the blood, the flames."

Flames are sign of hatred, sadness, and emptiness...

The word lingered in the boy's mind.

"Shino, I wish you weren't born. You betrayed me...YOU BETRAYED MEEEEE!"

That's right, it was all...all, my fault.

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Thank you for reading me!

...that sounded weird...but you know what!...

I'm so super duper sorry for the late update. I knew this was coming. I hope you readers have not given up on me!

I have already few ideas for the next chapter, so I hope I can get this done .

I'm just gonna be quick today. Sorry for my stupid grammar mistakes and typo!

Thank you and ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU (ありがとうございます！)

sincerly; IzayoiLicht