Chapter 24:
Attachment
Kaname was leaving the mansion and was outside when a dark bat flied toward him and told him something that made him frown.
- So… he manages to get a hold of Misaki. I guess that I'll have to make sure that Kiryu makes the final blow. Misaki… why can't you just stick to the path that is destine for you? Why are you always changing everything?- then he started to walked away. – You're the only one… that I can't control in this game.- he frown as he stare at the horizon.
And yet, it is a small thing.
Meanwhile…
Zero was staring at the scene that was holding in front of him. The very image of Rido smiling kindly to her, the way that he show her his care when he let a single tear slide down his face. Misaki turning around with her eyes wide open with hurt, agony and sadness of not believing what she was hearing.
When he pull the trigger was something that he couldn't stop when Yuki move. He had to do it, but… that scream… was hunting him since that day… just like four years ago.
What is this?
I want to end it all, and yet…
Am I prisoner…
… Of my attachment to the past?
Then Zero started to remember Misaki in her dark uniform of the Day Class.
The way she stared at him with a serious expression.
The way she stared at him with a gentle smile.
The way she stared at him with a frown on her face.
I don't have to remember it…
The way she stared at him with an angry face.
The way she stared at him with teary eyes.
I don't have to remember it…
In just a split second… or even much more slower… his mind wonder back at the time were they were younger.
Back when… he discovers her potential.
Flashback…
Zero, Ichiru and Misaki were outside training with Toga and Kaito. Kaito was making things harder for Ichiru since he was very weak, but Misaki manage to step in between and have Kaito retreat from them, but sometimes Kaito stay even if Misaki was there.
- Well, well, it seems that you still can't do even the slides thing about it.- said Kaito to Ichiru as he notice that Ichiru couldn't block any attack Kaito was throwing at him. – How are you going to fight those beasts if you can't even block any of my attacks? I'm not even putting a lot of effort into it, anyway.-
- Would you give him a rest? He's doing his best as everyone else can.- said Misaki very angry with Kaito.
- Why do you even bother with him? Everyone knows that he wouldn't manage to do it.- said Kaito.
- Because I believe in him, and I don't care what you say or do to make me change my mind on that.- said Misaki to him and was standing in front of Kaito to shield Ichiru.
Zero wasn't that close but what he could make up of that, he knew that Misaki was facing Kaito. He told her that she should never face him, he was quite strong since he was older than the three of them together. It seems like she didn't heard him any bit of what he warn him about. He was a little unsure so he stop and dash toward them so he could stop what was about to come.
Kaito manages to make Misaki piss off very much that they end up fighting each other.
- Well, if you want to prove me wrong… then I dare you to fight me.- challenge Kaito to Misaki.
- With pleasure.- said Misaki without doubting.
- Misaki! Don't!- try to argue Ichiru but they ignore him.
- What are you thinking?- asked Zero once he was next to her and hold her arm so she couldn't brush him away.
- Someone has to put him in his place for that. And I'm not going to back off for that.- said Misaki with determination and brush Zero's hold on her arm away.
- Why are you so desperate to make Kaito understand? He'll never see that. He's been doing that to us since we can remember.- said Zero which this time Kaito heard the conversation.
- Well, if it isn't the gentle Zero.- said Kaito with amusement. – Now you want to be a man and protect the damsel in distress?- this made Misaki's face to boil with anger.
- Who's the damsel in distress?- she dare to him to say it again since she didn't like the idea of everyone to consider her weak.
- Oh my, it seems the kitty has claws.- he was teasing her now which he love to do now.
- I'll show you claws if that's what you want.- she grumble to him while she took her weapons to train against him.
- That's the spirit.- said Kaito as he prepare himself with his own weapon too.
Both of them have a sword on their hands. Zero was worried of Misaki's wellbeing and Ichiru was just also worried but… he seem more worried that Misaki would overdo it.
Both knew that Kaito was very skilled and Misaki was just a rocky for a hunter. But once they both were ready, the battle started. Kaito was the first to strike and Misaki manage to dodge his attack and prepare to do the same, but Kaito was very fast for her to handle and she could only defend herself for now.
Kaito was impress that she manages to hold herself, but he got annoyed when she wasn't doing anything to attack him back. He knew that she could pull it out but she need some incentive for her to finally snap to offensive. That's when he look over to the twins and an idea got him.
- For someone so weak… you sure can resist very much.- said Kaito with a smirk.
- That's odd for you to say.- Misaki notice that Kaito was planning something.
- Well, that's not going to get you anywhere if you don't attack me, and specially for Ichiru and Zero.- said Kaito now that he attack but pass her.
- NO!- she shout to him as she realize who was he targeting now.
She dash toward him and notice that she wasn't going to be able to get to the twins before him. Then an idea got her and saw her own sword. She just pray that it would work. Misaki stop on her tracks and hold the sword like a spear and throw it with all her might as the sword manage to hold Kaito's left leg and make him trip over almost close to the twins who were in shock now.
But what they didn't notice… was that the sword was cover in a strange red aura like flames, once it reach Kaito… it only took a moment with the red aura until it vanish. Zero was the only one to notice the red aura from the sword.
What just happen?
Zero didn't know what happen until he notice the other sword that was close to Kaito's foot. He look back at Misaki who was just dashing toward Kaito, but Kaito was already standing and notice the other sword and before Misaki was able to get it back… he took it and now he was holding two swords on his hands.
Now Zero was panicking over, Misaki didn't have any weapon on her to defend herself. Kaito had the upper hand now. Misaki knowing this she keep going dashing toward Kaito. Much to everyone's shock, she wasn't lowering her speed at all; on the contrary she was speeding even more.
Kaito prepare himself for the impact that was going to hurt much more to her than him. But to his shock she let herself slide down instead of crashing toward him and took hold of his ankles and pull him with her to the ground. Kaito let go of the swords since he need his hands to shield himself form the impact.
Misaki rise up so fast that she manage to take a hold of Kaito on the ground, but Kaito manages to turned around and try to get her off him, but in their little fighting over who would make the other lose… they both started to roll over with each other trying to get the other under each other. Misaki manage to keep him off her but Kaito always found a way to move her under him and try to get her there but she would find a way too and push him under her now. Without realizing that they were moving toward a slide part that would make them roll even more.
Zero and Ichiru notice this and try to warn them but… it was too late.
- Kaito! Misaki! Watch out!- shouted both twins and dash toward them.
- Misaki!- shouted Zero worry but then he saw her fall down with Kaito.
Both of them were shock while they keep rolling down with each other. Kaito took hold of Misaki and try to shield her since his weight was too much for Misaki to hold. Misaki took hold of Kaito's shoulders as they keep spinning around, by the time they were on plat ground… they open their eyes. Misaki was under Kaito who look at her with worry in his eyes to see if she was hurt. Misaki was find but she was surprise that Kaito was checking her out if she was hurt of any sort of pain in her. She was so speechless right there that even if Kaito keep asking her if she was in pain or hurt she was frozen in her spot while staring at him.
By the time Zero and Ichiru were with them, Misaki was still speechless. Kaito got off her and try to help her rise up which she took his offer and rise up. By the time she was up, she was about to let go of Kaito's hand but then notice that Kaito wasn't letting her go. She look back at Kaito for the reason of that, but to her surprise… Kaito pull her toward him and embrace her without letting her go. Misaki's eyes widen while Zero stop in his tracks while watching this. Ichiru look at this and was as shock as Zero but he knew what this meant for his twin.
- Kaito?- Misaki try to called him and let her go but Kaito wasn't even moving at all or losing his grip on her.
- I'm sorry, Misaki.- Kaito apologize and she was only trying to hold herself for going crazy and shout at him, but the only thing that stop her for doing that was… - and I'm sorry for what I'm going to do next.- Misaki was shock and before she could understand anything, Kaito pull a little away and touch her cheek with his lips.
Zero's hands turned into fists as he watch this. His head was boiling with anger as he walked toward there and push Kaito away from Misaki. Misaki was still in shock to make a move, but once she felt Zero's arms around her and pulling her away from Kaito she started to flush as she notice what Kaito did.
Kaito…
Kiss me?
Zero notice that Misaki's ears were turning red and this was hurting him even more.
Why is she reacting like that toward him?
Is she having feelings for him?
Zero took Misaki away from everyone without even paying attention to Ichiru or even his sensei Toga. Toga watched everything from the beginning to the end and he was amused by this. He was smirking while watching Zero take Misaki away from everyone.
Looks like the kid fall already.
Once Zero and Misaki were far away from everyone… he pushed Misaki toward a tree and not let her go.
- Zero?- she asked him not understand his actions while she was still flushing from the kiss of Kaito.
- Don't…- said Zero with anger in his voice while his silver hair covers his eyes so she couldn't see him.
- Eh?- she try to look at him but… it was hard for her.
But before she could ask him what he meant… Zero crush his lips over hers taking her by surprise. Just like before… she was paralyze and stare with wide eyes at Zero but this simple act of Zero… and specially Zero… could make Misaki's heartbeat quicken and she closed her eyes and returned the kiss.
Zero soften his grip over her and let Misaki's arms to rise up and touch his face, while he place his arms around her back. They both pull away slowly and stare at each other; Misaki's face was blushing while staring at him and Zero's face flush too much for his own good and try to look away but Misaki stop him and make him stare back at her while she giggle.
- Don't tell me that now you're shy after kissing me?- she tease him while she love to see him like this.
Zero just blush even more as his face was like a tomato while Misaki only felt soft as she notice how cute Zero look like that. He was so lovely, caring, gentle and not even more but too CUTE. She pull him toward her and kiss him again to let him know that he shouldn't feel shy at all. Zero could feel the love coming from her and he couldn't stop himself from kissing back.
Once they pull away they knew that they have to return or they will get in trouble for that. They both returned walking holding hands with each other while looking in front of them. Then Zero notice Misaki's hand.
Her hand was so warm…
Then, the memories change to when he was in his first days with the Chairman and with Yuki. Yuki was there to hold him from hurting him and stay with him until he could fall asleep. But to be truth with himself… he was looking at Yuki with amethyst blue eyes instead of the brown ones that were hers only. The resembling made him calm down because he wanted to believe that she was still there with him.
But to his sorrow… she wasn't and keep agonizing in his dreams since that was the only time that he could see her smile, her crying, her sadness and even her anger made him have good dreams while shielding himself from everyone.
Right at that moment…
The only thing…
I could just…
Zero covers his face as the agony keeps crushing him of not having her with him. She was his light since she came in his life.
The only thing that mattered was to desperately try with all I had and…
Not let the terrible weight of those feeling-like things welling up in me make me lose my sanity completely.
He didn't know when he falls asleep until he started to see that woman who changed his life forever. The anger and the pain was coming back toward his neck and he hold himself trying desperately to get away but couldn't and the darkness was covering him completely without letting go. He was lost until…
- Zero? Zero… Zero…- at first started as a whisper but soon was a gentle voice that he recognize soon and open his eyes to look behind him since there was light coming there.
- Misaki?- he called her with tears on his eyes.
She looked at him with pain and then hug him with all the tender and love she could guarantee him. Zero didn't want to let her go and so he attach himself to her, feeling her warm and soft skin while crying over her neck and shoulder.
- Shhhh…. It's alright. Everything is alright now.- she try to consult him while patting his back.
- Misaki… I miss you… You don't know the pain that I'm suffering right now. I want you back with me. I can't see anything is going to be alright for me.- said Zero while crying.
- Zero, look at me.- she told him and that's when Zero rise his face to look at her with pain in his eyes.
- Don't worry, everything is going to be fine.- she assure him.
- How can you be sure? You…- he try to argue with her but she place a finger on his lips.
- You have to be strong Zero. You're the only one that can stop her if she ever comes back.- She smile at him while she kiss him one last time. – Remember… I'll always be with you. And… just hold on… I'll be back with you. I promise.- she told him before disappearing before his eyes and the darkness… faded away.
That's when Zero open his eyes to see that he was still in bed and that everything was a dream… the realization of it made him sad, deep down… He wants to believe that she'll return to his life. But knew that it was impossible, she was gone. At least… he still hopes to see her in his dreams.
It was like a plank I clung to so I couldn't drown…
Then after four years later… everything changed. Zero's eyes widen while staring at the girl in front of the Chairman with Yuki at his side. It was a dream that he couldn't wake up and that he couldn't believe that it was the reality instead.
Seeing her reddish-brown hair, her fair skin and much more… those amazing amethyst blue eyes of hers that you couldn't quite know if they were dark blue, blue, dark purple or sapphire eyes. It was magical to get lost in those eyes forever that now that he was looking at them once again… it was a dream come true.
But not even the dreams could change the reality… that both of them have change and that a wall was place in between them since those years pass by. Even if they wanted to take it down… they couldn't.
The days I dreaded will come…
- You were there for me back then. So now… I'll be there for you! Don't leave me now, Zero.- she shouted for him to hear her as she couldn't tolerate that he was hurt.
Zero look at the sky very sad while she crumble before him, he only embrace her back.
Those arms, which I have no right to seek…
Are preventing me from leaving…
From that moment he knew that he couldn't stop her… or leave her at least. He close his eyes before turning around to look at her.
I feel so safe in her arms that it's almost cruel…
She look at him with her teary eyes and he notice that she really care for him more than he ever expected.
And her gaze, always so sincere and unwavering…
It has never ceased to give me strength…
End of Flashback.
Those amethyst blue eyes that he remember back then…
And even as she stands in front of me now…
Were different from the ones that he was seeing right now.
Her gaze is just as sincere and unwavering as before…
Even if they're different, they still conserved the same strength as before.
As she looks at me…
Her teary eyes were looking at him with pain as she was expecting the worst outcome, only to have that the vines of Zero were actually blocking Yuki's Artemis away from Misaki who gave her back to Yuki.
- Zero! What's the meaning of this!?- shouted in shock toward him but notice that he wasn't staring at her.
Rido's eyes were shock to see the vines going pass him and toward Misaki, only to stop behind her as a barrier and protecting her. Zero stare back at Misaki before frowning and closing his eyes while turning his face away from her. It always pain him to see her like that and even if she was there… as his enemy… he can't stand it.
- Why aren't you attacking? I wouldn't have minded if you… had killed me here!- shouted Zero to her.
This future will inexorable fate away…
- Live on… and fulfill your goal…- Ichiru's voice sound in his mind.
And yet why do you both…
Misaki stare at him not understanding at all but her pain was still there while watching him.