Weiss II: Interlude

#4: Yume to Akumu

By: Aries Draco

A/N: This was supposed to be the next chapter. Unfortunately, it wouldn't fit. Be patient and wait a little longer. I am reluctant to write the ending to this fic but it is coming soon. Warning: disturbing scenes, Mirai-centric, shounen ai

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Tobias gently stroked Mirai's damp red hair. Or tried to. It was almost as if the boy had fallen into a coma. Damn it! If only Yoshiki could see him. Then, at least Mirai could get his medicine. Angrily, he slammed his hand down, right into Mirai's head. A curious feeling engulfed him. What the...? Tentatively, he got on top of the sleeping boy. What if... what if he could possess Mirai? He shut his eyes and prayed that it would work.

~+~

"Give me a bit more time..."

"And why should I allow this to continue?"

"Please, I need to..."

"I know what you need but you are hurting yourself."

"Help me."

"I am you, Mirai. Of course I must help you."

"Thank you."

"But there is only so long before something snaps."

~+~

A cool hand rested on his forehead. Mirai opened his eyes gratefully, seeing Yoshiki. But... why was Yoshiki crying? Streaks of red stood out in stark contrast from his porcelain cheeks. The hand caught fire, flames slowly licking up Yoshiki's arm. Mirai could only watch in silent horror, unable to move or cry out, as the searing heat melted the flesh right off, revealing bones that were swiftly charred black. Yoshiki merely looked down at the spreading fire with a peaceful look on his face.

The smell of burning flesh was revolting and Mirai finally found the strength to scream. By then, the fire had caught hold of Yoshiki's hair and face, causing his features to be distorted grotesquely. He was screaming too as Mirai tumbled away from him. It was pain that permeated his voice. He fell to his knees, reaching out pleadingly for the boy.

"Don't leave me like this," he cried. "Don't make me suffer like this! Kill me, please, Mirai. Please?"

Mirai backed away from the burning figure, eyes wide in fear. "Yoshiki," he whispered helplessly.

"Help me, kill me, Mirai... Don't leave me like this..."

Trembling, Mirai made up his mind. He walked over and embraced the burning Yoshiki tenderly. "Let me end this," he murmured softly, gently. "Let me take away your pain."

"Arigatou."

A corpse lay in his arms, complete, untouched by fire. But it was not Yoshiki. It was his father. Already rotting, vivid green eyes stared up at him. Mirai screamed again, dropping the corpse. The body gave a shuddering moan, then picked itself up painfully. There was a pitying look on its face. It lurched over to Mirai, who stood rooted to the spot. Slowly, one bony hand caressed his face.

"Forgive me," breathed the corpse. "But don't forgive the one who killed me, no matter how much you love."

"Otou-san..."

He was no longer in Yoshiki's apartment. Instead, he was in one of the white rooms he was so familiar with. He was restrained and the white men were coming. Whimpering, he backed into a wall.

"Come on, little boy," cooed the faceless man in white. "No one is going to hurt you. Let's all play a little game."

"But I don't wanna," whimpered Mirai, pressing himself against the wall, crying. "I like my jacket and my clothes."

The faceless men only laughed, their laugher harsh and metallic, echoing about the small white room. Mirai shut his eyes.

"Mi-chan?"

"Aneki?" whispered Mirai, unable to believe his eyes. "You're... really here? To see me?"

Kurenai smiled gently at the boy. "Of course I am. You are my brother after all," laughed the young woman happily. "And I brought your brother along too."

"Hontou ni?"

Kurenai shook her head.

"Of course I'm lying, my dear brother. I'm dead," she said simply, erupting into flame. Wings of fire spread from her back as she wailed, drowning out Mirai's anguished cries.

~+~

"Mi-chan! Mirai!"

So warm and safe, enveloped in pure love. Mirai was afraid to even open his eyes. Instead, he opted to speak with his eyes tightly shut.

"I had a very bad dream," he whispered.

"You had a few," murmured the soft voice. Soothingly, a hand ran through his now-tangled hair. "But it's over now. I won't let you fall back into them."

"I'm scared," said Mirai very, very quietly, tears welling up in his eyes. "I want to wake up."

"I'm sure that will happen soon enough," assured the voice. "Now, look at me, Mirai."

"I'm scared," repeated the boy. However, he slowly tilted his head up and opened his eyes.

Tobias felt a breath catch in his throat. God, Mirai was beautiful! Liquid amethyst pools fringed with long, dark lashes dusted with tears. These were set on a flawless ivory plane and coupled with a pert nose and soft pink lips. Red hair the colour of blood framed this enchanting face, tumbling off his narrow shoulders and spilling down his back like a magnificent waterfall. It was strange how he had never noticed this child's beauty before, or never saw so keenly the loveliness that was Mirai. Hesitantly, he leaned close, pressing a chaste kiss to the boy's lips.

"Tobi-chan," breathed Mirai, drawing in a sudden breath. "Then I'm still dreaming."

"Hai." He had never seen Mirai so fragile, so child-like before. With a start, Tobias remembered that Mirai was only twelve. He had almost forgotten after all that had happened. Here, in the dream, Mirai was in his original body, his proper one, suiting his age. If he were still alive, Tobias would have spared no effort in pursuing Mirai. But he was dead. And the only time they could touch like that was in a dream. The boy lay quietly in his arms, not fighting his tightening embrace.

"Mirai," he murmured, recapturing the boy's attention.

"Hm?"

"I love you," said Tobias sincerely. For one who had cheapened those words, he was shocked to find that he meant it. He meant it as he had never meant it before. Sure, there had been love between him and his previous lovers but that was temporary, more like lust than true love. However, this feeling he had for Mirai... incomparable. "Ai shiteiru."

He felt Mirai stiffen up. In shock? In horror? Who could tell? Sadly, Tobias started to pull away but Mirai held onto him. "Mi-chan…"

The boy was crying silently. So beautiful, even in such sorrow. Each tear shone like a crystal, shattering into dust upon contact with the ground. He could not resist kissing those tears away.

"Tobi-chan, I... I'm sorry," whispered Mirai miserably. "I don't, you know? I don't think I know myself well enough to proclaim that I love anyone except for my immediate family."

"It's okay, darling," comforted Tobias, though he could not help but feel a little disappointed. "I'm dead anyway. Why waste your affections on me? In any case, you are still very young. You need to give yourself time to grow up."

How nice it would be to have this sweet beauty lying beneath him, red hair fanned out on black bed sheets, sheer blankets obscuring areas of pale skin? How divine would it be to hear sounds of pleasure leaving those tender lips as they lay together in unity? But he could not. It would only be in dreams.

"I have such weird dreams sometimes," sighed Mirai, looking down at the dream ground. Suddenly, the dreamscape changed into one of a white room. Plain and simple with a window high up, allowing in a small square of sunlight. "Of things that were... things that are... and things that have yet to be. Because I can read the very fabric of time, I dream of these. They are not always real, not always so vivid, but always, always they scare me."

"Even the happy dreams?" asked Tobias, rocking the boy.

"It is not the dreams I fear, it is the power from which they stem," said Mirai darkly. "When I am asleep, I cannot control it at all. That is why I want to wake up. Now. ."

"I... see..."

They sat together silently. If only he was still alive. If only he had realised earlier how special a child Mirai was. But even if he had, he would still have had to die. "Mi-chan, what happens now?"

"Hm?"

"About Ryan..."

Mirai shook his head. "It'll be soon," he said simply. "I know it. In fact, Mei should be making her move within the next 24 hours. And... well, perhaps I should not say it. There is always a chance that I might be wrong."

"About what?"

But that was the end of the conversation. Mirai was waking up. Tobias had to leave.

~+~

"Mirai, you're awake!" cried Yoshiki happily. He touched Mirai's forehead and was pleased to feel that the fever had broken. "Do you need to see a doctor?"

The boy looked up at him calmly with those odd amethyst eyes. "No, thank you," he said politely. "But I must apologise."

Yoshiki smiled. "It's okay, you don't have to."

A curious look crossed the boy's face. He looked away from Yoshiki. "I must apologise for what will be happening within the next hour," he said quietly. "And I shall take my leave now."

Before the startled man could say a thing, Mirai had thrown him onto the bed. Calm eyes gazed at him, filled with... what? Pity? Then, a sharp prick on his neck.

"Goodbye, Yoshiki-san," said Mirai softly as the man fell unconscious. "Thank you for everything. I wish you luck." And he was gone.

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A/N: I love Mirai.

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