Chapter 14: Forgotten Bonds
"Neru-chan, take it easy, would ya? You're injured, stop trying to fight me and let me help you!"
"I never asked for your help, so back off, Honne!"
Oh, dear. In the distance, faint echoes of two unfortunately familiar voices ring out from somewhere below me and Rin. They don't sound friendly at all. I exchange concerned glances with the Kagamine girl, letting out a silent sigh.
"Well, that's just too bad. Fate stupidly stuck us together during this mess, and while I hate it as much as you, please give your raging ego a rest for one second and let me wrap this around your arm!"
The walkway we're on winds around a corner, taking us deeper down into the palace. For a moment, I contemplate turning back around and finding somewhere else to get shelter. I don't think I can deal with Neru and Dell bickering… Not at a time like this.
"At least Neru-chan and Dell-san are safe," Rin offers words of positivity, with a small, sweet giggle.
"Yeah, sure," I mutter. "Until they rip each other's heads off."
As we head further down, we're taken into a dim, cramped hallway. I allow Rin to go first, since there's no longer enough room for us to walk side by side. This palace certainly is built oddly. Then again, I don't really know what a palace is supposed to be built like. Still, it feels odd. What's with the weird stuffy hallway that barely allows any room to breathe? Good thing I don't have claustrophobia.
Rin and I squeeze down the best we can. She's a small girl, so I presume she doesn't have to suck in her gut like the chubby blob I am. I really should eat a better diet that doesn't consist of cake, baked goods, and pizza, if I ever get out of here alive. "Hnngh," I grimace, finding that it's becoming narrower near the middle. This hallway could go on forever. There's no telling. I can't make out an ending, but what I can hear is Neru and Dell's arguing growing louder. That must mean they're at the end of this hall, right…?
"Hey, keep your hands to yourself. Don't even think about-!"
Uh oh. I can't hear much other than shouting the first time, but not even a second after Dell spits out those demanding words, a light smack noise follows. I can't help but cringe, my face twisting in discomfort.
"We better- hnngh… h-hurry, before they kill each other…!" Rin's probably only being dramatic for comedic effect, to lighten the tone or something, but honestly, I wouldn't put it past those two. She picks up the pace in front of me, and while I'd like to follow her, I really can't.
"I already warned you to stay away from me!" Neru growls in a dark tone, one which is unpleasant to hear, to say the least.
"Alright! Break it up, right now!" Rin hoists herself forward, apparently coming to the end of the hallway. Neru and Dell must be in the room at the very end of this. She squishes her way out of the constricting walls, and her appearance causes the two of them, unaware of our presence, to let out a synchronised fearful screech.
"Waaaahhhh! R-R-Rin-chan!" Despite being a stammering, anxiety-riddled mess, Neru pounces on the other girl, tightly wrapping her arms around her.
As Rin is almost thrown to the floor, I'm able to get a better view of the room as I come to the end of that awful hallway. It's a… library? It's almost as dark as that one back at school, except there's a dim glow in the centre. I'm able to see the outlines of towering bookshelves, pedestals and pretty much anything else I'd expect to see in a library. I can also sort of make out the scent of burning paper.
"I… I'm okay, I'm okay…!" Rin struggles to push back against Neru, who must be damn near suffocating the poor girl.
At the very least, I'm glad that Neru and Dell are conscious and relatively unharmed. Dell's eyes meet mine, and for what feels like the longest time, he glares over at me. His eyes pierce right through me, which causes an uncomfortable sensation to bubble in the pit of my stomach. This is incredibly awkward. I need to try and make things right with him. Not sure what I did wrong, so I've no idea where to begin in fixing things, but...
"A-Ah… Neru-chan, you're bleeding..." Rin softly gasps. After finally pulling away from the tomboy's death grip, she points out the dark crimson patch on her sleeve.
"Oh, this?" Neru lifts her arm up, looks at the stain, and gives a simple shrug as though it's not a big deal. "I'm fine, really. I woke up with my arm like this. I think the ice out there must've caught me."
Damn. I had no idea ice could harm someone like that. All the more reason for me to despise snow and all things cold.
Rin blinks a few times, taken by surprise at learning a new fact. "O-Oh… wow..."
"Tch," Dell quietly scoffs, plopping himself onto the floor, right in front of the makeshift fire the two of them probably set up together. "Yeah, I tried to put some pressure on it to stop the bleeding, but somebody wouldn't let me." He speaks bitterly with his back turned away from us.
Neru spins on her heels, grunting under her breath, agitation flaring up once more. "You're not my fucking mom, it's not your place to look after me like I'm some sort of baby!" She snaps at him with the fury of a thunderstorm, or… something like that. Perhaps ice-storm would be a better example. Hey, it's not my fault my brain has been frozen over…!
He decides not to retaliate her anger. Instead, he just leans forward, scooting closer to the fire and extending his hands out to catch some warmth.
"W-Well, he… kind of has a point," Rin shyly pipes up. When met with Neru's questioning glare, she backs down without a second thought. Geez.
"I see how it is..." I mumble. Oops, did I say that out loud?
Neru and Rin turn their gazes to me; naturally, Neru is giving more of a 'what the fuck did you just say?' stare.
"What do you mean, Kaito-san?" Rin speaks before Neru can bark some more at me.
"Aha, I just..." Well, it's obvious that we all ended up in this place together. We have to rely on each other if we ever want to get out, yet Dell and Neru are acting like nothing has changed. That they can argue and get on each other's nerves without consequence. Fuck it, I can't be shy or hesitant to say what I want to say.
Shaking my head lightly, I look directly at Neru. "You're being incredibly selfish right now."
Neru's eye twitches ever so slightly. "Excuse me?" I've dared to challenge the almighty Neru Akita. Pfft, give me a break… She doesn't raise her voice at me, but I get the feeling I'm treading on thin ice right now. Wait, I need to stop thinking of similes about ice…!
"You are, too, Dell-kun." I make sure to include him in this.
He doesn't bother to face me. "So sue me."
Sucking in a deep breath, I remain composed. Can't sink to their level. "You realise we're trapped here, right?" Dell said the exact same thing earlier, or at least to that effect. He tried to convince Neru to work as part of a team, but he gave up easily. Well, I sure as hell ain't gonna pussy out like that.
"Way to rub it in," Rin pulls a pouty face, lowering her eyes. Ouch.
"Our only chance of getting outta here is working together. Yet you two just want to keep arguing like bratty children, rather than snapping out of it and trying to come up with an escape plan." I continue on, darting my glance from Neru to Dell's back.
"Yeah? Who cares. How does that make me selfish?" Neru scoffs, folding her arms over her chest. She sticks her chin out, confidence unwavering as always.
"Because as usual, you're only worried about yourself," I retort. "How do you expect to get out of here if you can't put aside your petty fighting? What, do you plan on bickering back and forth until you both freeze to death?"
"W-Well…!" Neru's eyes widen slightly at that. She straightens her posture out, lowering her arms from her chest rather fast.
"Ugh..." Dell huffs, retracting his hands from the fire.
"Rin-san and I can't come up with a plan all on our own. And what if the two of us never even showed up? If it was just the two of you?" I press the point further, wanting to drill it into their thick heads that this falling out of theirs has to come to an end, at least for now.
"Kaito-san is right..." Rin comes to my aid, clenching a determined fist at her side. "I-I didn't want to get involved because it's not my place… Plus I feel like this is all my fault to begin with… But..." There's a solemn expression on her face. Maybe I've been wrong about her all along.
"Of course it's not your fault!" Neru is quick to reassure her new friend. She reaches out a hand to rest on Rin's shoulder. "Certain people are jealous that I get along so well with you and your other friends, that's all."
"Ugh…!" I'm definitely thrown off by her lack of awareness, even after all I said.
Dell pulls himself up from the floor, releasing a heavy sigh before turning around to face us, at last. "You're right. Maybe I was jealous," he admits, and for a moment, I think we're making progress. Of course, he shatters that in the space of like, three seconds. "But you were a shitty friend for ignoring how the rest of us felt." He sneers at the tomboy.
Neru rips her hand a little too hard from Rin, causing the poor Kagamine girl to wobble a little. She gets all up in Dell's face once more, and the arguing begins.
"Seriously?" I scowl under my breath, narrowing my eyes at the pair. Can't these two give it a rest already? How are they not tired of this by now?
"It's okay… I'm glad you tried at least," Rin reassures me the best she can, with a comforting pat to the back. Although, it feels more patronising than anything else, despite not meaning to.
"And maybe if you didn't-! W-Whoa..."
My attention is almost instantly brought back to the couple arguing, at the sound of feet stomping and squeaking against the floor, along with the sight of Neru who appears to be incapacitated out of nowhere.
"N-Neru-chan!?" Dell sharply gasps, trying his best to hold up and support the girl weak at the knees. Sweat forms at his forehead, made apparent by the soft glow of the fire beside them. She slumps against his body, breathing shallow.
"Fuck…!" I rush to her side, wondering exactly how I should help. Rin follows straight after, and while I wrap one of Neru's arms around my shoulder to take some of the weight off Dell, the Kagamine girl is at a loss on what to do.
"I… I feel… dizzy," she hisses, pressing her head into the male's chest, and screwing her eyes shut.
"It must be the cold… plus her arm injury," Rin suggests, stood at Dell's side. I'm not sure what makes her the expert all of a sudden, but shit, it's the best guess we have.
"Let's move her closer to the fire," I say, taking charge in the stressful situation. Dell is a shaky mess himself; he's staring down at Neru with nothing but a dull glimmer of fear and guilt in his orbs. Unsurprisingly, he doesn't hear a single thing I say. "Dell-kun!" I hate to be harsh, but I snap an order at him to bring him back to reality.
"R-Right…!" He nods once, taking hold of Neru with all the strength he can muster. It's hard for me, too. This girl isn't exactly light, and I'm still stinging from my own injuries.
Dell and I drag her close to the fire, gently lowering her down onto the floor. Bending my knees, I suck in a pained breath, setting her down as though she were a rag-doll, practically lifeless, skin pale. I do wonder what really could've brought this on.
"I've got her, Kaito-kun..." Dell insists he takes full responsibility of her. He's so stubborn.
With a sigh, I slowly pull her arm from around my back. She crumples the second I let her go, falling with a soft 'plop' into Dell's lap. Her head lands on his legs, her body sort of sprawled out. Her eyes must've slipped shut a short while ago. It looks like she's a peaceful kitty sleeping on her owner right now. All that rage from before has melted away completely.
"Neru-chan..." Dell whispers to her, shifting some stray golden locks out of her exhausted, crinkled face. He shuffles on his knees, probably to get a bit more comfortable, and holds the girl closer. He slides an arm around her waist, falling silent.
"Shit," I mutter. My heart is still racing from how quickly that all went down. "What now…?" I wrap my arms around myself, shuddering. I can feel a strange chill in the air. Maybe it's just my nerves. Besides all that, seeing Neru in that state… It makes my stomach turn. I can't help but think about Miku. What if she ends up the same way? No, I can't think like that...
"I don't think there's much we can do now," Rin quietly admits. I hope Dell can't hear this. As much as I want her to be wrong, part of me knows it's true. Damn it, I hate feeling so hopeless, so powerless… There has to be something…! "I hope everyone else shows up soon, though. I… I want us to be together, at the very least..."
As cynical as it may seem, I agree with her. I'd hate to be alone when we inevitably freeze to death. But still, there's a fragment of hope nagging away at me in a corner of my mind. It's starting to get a little too stuffy in here. It's strange, since a moment ago I had felt that weird chill; plus I should be half-frozen like a chunk of ice, but something feels off about the atmosphere all of a sudden. I think it's something like the dizzying sensation that overwhelmed Neru just now, and part of me knows I need to take a breath of fresh air. "I'm going to go look for the others."
"H-Huh?" Rin blinks rapidly at that, clearly thrown off by the fact I changed my mind. "I… I'll go with you..." She takes a step toward me when I move over to the entrance of that narrow hallway.
"It's okay. I'll only be a few minutes," I respond. It's best she stays here in the warmth. "I'm going to scan the main entrance and come straight back." Well, maybe not straight back. Curiosity is getting the better of me. This place is so mysterious, I can't help but want to explore some of it. Also, it's really becoming unbearable in here.
"...okay." There's something oddly bitter about the way that single word comes from Rin's mouth. I decide to shake it off. She's probably getting antsy like the rest of us. I'm kind of surprised it's taken this long for it to kick in, but it's only inevitable.
Muttering a quick 'goodbye', I begin to squeeze my way through that hallway all over again. While it's a pain, it's a huge weight off my shoulders. The further away from the library I am, the more I feel like I can breathe unrestricted once more.
…
It's nice to take in a big old breath of fresh, cool air. I prop my hands on my waist, taking a few moments to myself once I'm back at the main entrance of the palace. Scanning the area, it doesn't seem like there's anyone out here, at least not at a first glance. This floor is empty. I wonder how long it's been standing deserted before we arrived.
"K-Kaito-san?!" Someone shouts my name in a shocked, yet relieved tone, breaking the one sacred moment of silence I've had in a long time.
"Wah-!" It causes my heart to practically burst out my chest, since I've been so used to how quiet it is in this place. I spin around on my heels, looking from right to left, but can't catch sight of anybody. "Wh-Who's there? You tryna mess with me?" I bravely call out, despite knowing for a fact I have no intention of fighting whoever's here.
"I'm up here, you idiot!"
When the male comes out with that, I realise who it is without even looking. I know that rude tone all too well. Sucking in a breath, my nerves start to subside, and I tilt my head back to glance up at the walkway on the first floor.
Of course, it's none other than the cocky Gakupo Kamui. Except I suppose we're not exactly enemies any more, so I should maybe make an effort to be polite to him. Besides, I feel better knowing that he's unharmed. He's resting his elbows on the handrail, a light smirk pulling at his lips as he stares down at me. Ah good, I can feel the smug radiating off him already.
"The hell are you doing up there?" Hey, I said we're barely enemies, that doesn't mean we're friends. If he's going to be the usual smug dickhead that he's always been, then I'm not in the mood to go down that route again.
"Uh, I'm lost. Duh?" The purple-haired demon narrows his eyes at me, spewing those disgustingly condescending words my way, as if I should have already known the answer.
I grunt under my breath, pinching at the bridge of my nose and shaking my head. "Well, get down here, would you?" I feel like a prince coming to rescue a princess who's been trapped in a castle all her life, with the way we're awkwardly conversing right now. I briefly run over the minor details of the underground library, where Rin, Neru and Dell are getting shelter, and how I've sort of made it my mission to try and find the others.
"Shit..." A troubled frown crosses his face. He furrows his brows, leaning into one of his palms. "So, it seems like there's a good chance everyone else is here, too?"
"Fucked up, right?" That's all I can say.
"Well, maybe we should search together for a bit," he throws out that suggestion, and I suppose it's not the worst thing I've ever heard. Teamwork with this guy still feels a bit odd, though.
"It's a big palace," I shrug. With my mind made up, I head over to the staircase and join Gakupo on the first floor up. He trails his eyes along with my movements, and greets me with a wide grin when we're face-to-face. Even though he's probably being genuine and not mocking me for once, part of me is still in hostile mode, not quite used to acting all normal with him. "What's with that stupid smile? Uh! I mean..." That sort of slips out before I can stop myself.
He pulls his elbows from resting against the handrail, before giving a huff in response. "Well, excuse me for being relieved that you're okay," he scowls, turning his back on me and starting to walk away. Ouch.
"Sorry, sorry. No need to be so sour, it came out by accident," I respond in my own bitter way, following him shortly after. Making an attempt to apologise is probably the best course of action, right? I need to lay off the sourness myself, though.
He turns to look over his shoulder at me, a playful snicker passing his lips. Whew, crisis averted. "Yeah, yeah. I just thought it'd be fun to mess with you a little, to make things feel… relatively normal again."
Strange. It's only been a little while since I last saw Gakupo, but… It feels like it's been a long time. I avert my eyes, shifting my head to the side so that he won't be able to see the light blush sneaking its way up on me. Damn it, think about something else, quick…! I pretend to look at some of the doors over to the left, which must lead to some bedrooms or something. Need something to distract my mind with. Can't keep blushing like an idiot…
"Hmm, I wonder what's behind all these doors." He must've noticed where I've been looking.
I flick my glance back over to him, the heat fading from my cheeks a moment later. "Yeah, uh… This sure is a fancy place, huh? I bet whoever used to live here loved it."
"Pfft. Yeah, and I bet they were a spoilt brat who didn't appreciate such luxury," Gakupo chuckles in response. That soft laughter… It's kind of sweet, and it's also kind of contagious. I can't help but laugh along with him for a couple of moments; the two of us sharing a pleasant moment like this is pretty nice.
I let out a deep sigh once the giggles have passed. The fear that had been brewing in the pit of my stomach isn't as noticeable any more. Sure, my fingertips are still tingling, but perhaps it isn't quite time to give up just yet. "Right?" I sort of snort in agreement. "That's probably more accurate."
I almost forgot for a moment that some kind of royalty must've resided here, sometime in the past. I doubt they would've appreciated it, especially if they were raised to take that kind of lifestyle for granted. Then again, what do I know about royalty except for the dramatised adventures found in one of Miku's favourite manga? It's a funny thought either way.
"Mm-hmm… ah...~"
"E-Eh? What's that?" I stop dead in my tracks. I swear I can hear the faintest humming from somewhere. Not gonna lie, it sort of runs my blood cold. Surely if everyone else was here, they wouldn't just be singing…
Gakupo swiftly puts on the brakes, too. "What? What is it?" There's a slight panic in his voice, much like the time we were in that library together. Geez, why do we both have to be total cowards when faced with something like this? He darts his glance about, whereas I silence my breathing the best I can to pinpoint the source.
"Sh, shh," I hiss, rudely waving a hand in his face. He purses his lips together, glaring ever so slightly at me, but refraining from making any noise.
"Hmm… ah, ah, mm...~"
Biting on my lower lip, breathing as lightly as I possibly can, I finally hear it again. It's a soft little melody, coming from… Huh. Somewhere to the left of us. I certainly can't recognise who it is – all I know is that it's a female. The cold air tickles at my back, leaving me kind of paralysed as the humming hits my ears again. I have to admit, it's pretty creepy… An abandoned palace miraculously still clean after a long time is suspicious enough on its own. Now some girl is humming a tune from somewhere? Please don't tell me we're hearing ghosts of the past.
"M-Maybe we should go back to Rin-san and the others downstairs," Gakupo quietly suggests, tiptoeing himself a bit closer to me, probably to feel safer. Although if I were him, I wouldn't rely on me like that for safety.
I slowly turn my head from left to right, scanning the area. Nobody is out here. There's definitely someone in one of the bedrooms. Is it really wise to go investigating after all the danger we've faced so far? Then again, it's just a girl… Heh. Famous last words. Squinting my eyes, double checking the palace entrance below, I give a shake of my head. "It has to be one of the girls in our group… Right?"
Gakupo simply responds with an exaggerated shrug, as if to ask, 'how the hell should I know?'. He's trembling a little bit. Can't tell if it's from the cold seeping further into our bodies, or if it's genuine fear.
Perhaps this is the dumbest thing I've done all week, but I have to take the risk. If Miku is here by herself, she must be terrified. Well, I assume 'terrified' doesn't even begin to accurately reflect it, but… "C'mon. What, you scared, Kamui?" I throw a playful grin his way, slapping on some confidence of my own.
"Please don't be a trap, please don't be a trap..." He mutters that a few times under his breath as we begin to head toward the source of the quiet humming. It's sweet, but of course, that hint of creepiness isn't quick to fade. It echoes a little as it drifts from behind the doors of the bedroom toward our ears, and while I try to tell myself there's no need to feel threatened by it, it's hard to actually put logic into practice.
I scoff under my breath, ignoring Gakupo's wimp-ish mumbling for the time being. "If I'm wrong about this and it's another trap, I'll let you say 'I told you so' as many times as you want." I let out a weak laugh, telling him those words over my shoulder. We have to backtrack a short distance past the stairs, and the closer we get to the end of the walkway on one side, the clearer the humming becomes.
Whoever's in here, they're at the very last bedroom. Ugh, I really hope it's Miku. I haven't quite heard her sing as much as I'd like, so it's difficult to figure out if it's her or not. Stopping a few paces short in front of the door, I turn to glance at Gakupo, who still has that pitiable look of worry plastered on his features. It sure is strange seeing this side of him. "Should I open the door, or do you want to do the honours?"
He immediately sharpens his offended glare at me. "How dare you even insinuate that I do so."
"Of course..." I roll my eyes, turning back to the door. I reach out for the handle; it's a standard silver circular knob, and as expected, it's as icy to the touch as everything else in this place. It only makes the light tingling in my fingertips worse, just as I had started to forget about that awful sensation. Carefully, I begin to push the door open. It doesn't make much noise as I push at it, but maybe that's only because I'm being incredibly cautious and not barging in.
Gakupo stays a couple of steps behind me, and he's probably craning his neck from a distance to get a good look inside, without risking the brunt if it's indeed a trap.
The more I push the door open, the louder that humming becomes. Of course, it doesn't become that much louder, but it's obvious the source is here. It becomes even more obvious once I'm able to get a glimpse inside. "H-Huh…?" A little nervous squeak gets caught up in my throat at the peculiar sight.
There's someone resting on the bed with their back turned to us. Sitting upright with crossed legs, leaning over the pillows… No, leaning over somebody else. I trail my eyes up from their back, taking in their familiar teal locks… That can't be. This person is so familiar, yet there's an odd light blue surrounding them, almost like some sort of aura, as they gently hum away. My eyes grow wide at whatever it is I'm witnessing. "M...Mi-chan…?" I stutter out her name without thinking.
"A-Ah!" A sharp gasp comes from her, and the split second I utter her name, that strange light blue disappears. Or at least… I think that's what I saw…? She spins around on top of the bed, jaw dropped as she locks eyes with me. "Oh… Oh my goodness!" She clutches at her chest with a free hand, supporting herself with her other palm pressed firmly against the blanket. A wave of relief must have washed over her in that moment.
I rub at the back of my neck, not quite sure where to start. I should be relieved too, but I'm more freaked out by what I thought I just saw. There had been some sort of glow surrounding her, hadn't there…? Or was it a trick of the light? She flutters her lashes expectantly at me, hoping for more than just stunned silence. But what am I supposed to say?
"Uh… Glad to see you're safe, Miku-san," Gakupo pipes up, nudging me with his elbow as he passes me to enter the room. I wobble a bit on the spot as he pushes me aside, still in a sort of daze.
"S-Sorry, I'm just in shock…!" I quickly shake it off, deciding to ignore that whole thing. I think the cold is just freezing my brain and making me delirious or something. I hurry into the room, following behind Gakupo, promptly shutting the door behind me to ward off some of the chilly air outside.
When I step into the room, I start to take in more of my surroundings. I'd been so fixated on Miku the whole time, I barely even got a look at this place. It's decently sized. A high-ranking worker or something must've slept in here, long ago. There's not a whole lot in here; just a bed planted firmly in the centre of the room against the back wall, an elegant wooden bedside table, and a bigger, matching wooden wardrobe to the right. Oddly, this bedroom is like the rest of the palace that I've seen so far. Abandoned, yet no sign of dust.
It only takes a couple of moments for me to register it. "This is..."
"G-Gumi-chan…?" Gakupo inhales sharply, rushing to the side of the bed.
Oh, fuck. I didn't see that the green-haired girl is lying down there, eyes tightly shut. I guess Miku had kind of been blocking the way when we first entered… "Is she okay?"
Miku hops up from the bed, allowing Gakupo some space to sit beside Gumi on the edge. She reluctantly shakes her head at my question, a pout pulling at the corners of her lips. "She… ah..."
"Gumi-chan… Please wake up," Gakupo's fear from earlier has naturally melted away. However, it seems to have been replaced by a different type of fear; a type of crippling worry for a loved one. I can't help but watch helplessly in silence as he shakes at her shoulder. There's the most heartbreaking expression of panic pulling at his features, desperation growing as he pushes her harder when there's no response. "Gumi-chan…!"
Miku turns away from the two, trotting over to me with her head hanging low. "Kaito-kun… I… I was so scared," she softly mumbles, looking up at me with sparkling eyes.
Without hesitation, I reach out to her and wrap my arms around her body. I pull her close to me, sharing some of my remaining warmth with her. She's colder than I am, somehow. I wordlessly run a hand up and down her back, reassuring her that everything will be alright… I don't know how, but it has to be.
"I'm still scared, but… Now that you're here, now that we're together again..." Miku continues to mumble, her forehead pressed tightly against my chest. Her words come out a bit muffled against me, but I can still hear her. I can only embrace her ever so slightly tighter when her body begins to tremble against mine. "B-But still, I… what are we going to do…?"
I run my hand up her back, resting my palm against the top of her head. I'm not sure how to answer that. She so desperately wants my guidance, just like Gakupo yearns for Gumi to wake up. He hasn't said another word ever since he realised she's unconscious. I peer over Miku's shoulder, and I can see that he's still leaning over her, softly caressing the top of her hand with his. "It's alright..." I pull my eyes from him, internally scolding myself. Miku is my priority. She always will be.
Taking in a deep breath, Miku slowly lifts her head up from my chest. Her beautiful blue eyes are still sparkling with those crystal drops… I hate seeing her so upset. I wish I could make everything right for her. Her lips slightly parted, she connects our gazes once more. "I… I found her unconscious in here. I've been comforting her the best I can, hoping she can hear my sweet lullabies..."
"You're always so thoughtful, Mi-chan," I praise her with a gentle smile, all while running my fingers through her freely flowing hair. I lower an arm to slide around her waist, with a quiet sigh. It's a good thing she was humming, otherwise I probably wouldn't have bothered to check these bedrooms. "Do you have any idea what could be wrong with her? A concussion, maybe…?" I lower my voice, trying not to let Gakupo hear.
Miku gives a small shrug, genuinely unsure. "I don't know… She could've been here for a long time already..." Since last night? This isn't good. There's no chance of finding food or clean water here. How much more grim is this situation going to get?
"Well, let's try to stay positive," I say, more audibly this time. I'm usually so pessimistic, but this is the one time I have to put on a brave face, even though we're running out of time. I'm not quite sure how we all ended up here, but whatever dropped us here, it must've decided to send Gumi in first. Not sure why. I can barely think rationally at all, it's killing my head. "How have you been holding up since you got here?"
"I… I'm a little sleepy, and kind of hungry," she shyly admits, lowering her eyes for a moment. I haven't even been able to think of food, to be honest. "I don't know how long I've been here, either. Maybe… a few hours…?"
That's right. There's no way to keep track of time, wherever we are. All I know is that I haven't been awake as long as Miku, so who knows how bad she's had it before I showed up. I let out a soft huff, gently dropping the handful of teal locks back down to her side. "Ah, right… I woke up by myself, but I was lucky enough to come across Rin-san. We headed into this palace together, and stumbled across Dell-kun and Neru-chan."
Miku's eyes light up just a bit as she hears that. "O-Oh…! They're okay?"
"Well..." I give an awkward laugh. "We discovered an underground library. Neru-chan took a bit of a funny turn herself, but it must be from all this cold. We're not used to it. She's down there with Dell-kun, probably sleeping next to the little fire they put together."
"Ah..." A light frown pulls at her lips as I reveal that about Neru. She must understand, too. We're all here together, and that means we have to put aside our petty arguments from this week. "Maybe we can carry Gumi-san downstairs with some blankets. She may feel better with some heat."
Gakupo lifts his head up at that point, turning to look at us. "You built a fire?" Dark circles have started to form under his eyes already. Seeing that dull expression on his face, and the mix of guilt and pain glinting in his eyes… It hurts more than it probably should.
I nod as a response. "I think it's time we regroup with the others," I say. Rin might be getting worried about me. Or worse, Neru and Dell might've actually killed each other at this point. Well, I'm kind of hoping Neru sleeps for a little while longer, so she can forget all about her anger.
"I'll carry Gumi-chan downstairs," Gakupo bluntly states, taking responsibility for her alone.
"You sure…? Might be easier if-"
"I said I got it," he coldly interrupts my offer. Ugh… That harsh tone reminds me of the start of this week. I'd only just cracked that tough shell of his, and now he's back to his old self. I can kind of understand, but I was only trying to be nice. He turns away from us at that moment, shifting the blankets off the girl, preparing to pick her up.
Miku shrugs with a strained smile at me, silently suggesting that I don't take it personally. She must've seen the faint bitter grimace on my face. "I'll grab the blankets," she says. Sure, and I'll just do nothing, I guess… Great.
…
There's silence for the longest time, as the makeshift paper fire quietly crackles away in the background. It's quite pleasant, but an uncomfortable sensation still lingers in the air. I'm trying my hardest not to focus on those negative feelings, though. All that matters is we're together again. Well, almost all of us. I've started to recall some of the blurry events from the previous night, or however long ago it was by now. Una and her friends were somehow involved in this mess of ours, too. But they're still nowhere to be seen in this place. I think it's clear they're not pulling the strings behind this crap, so the thought that they may be lost somewhere in the maze of ice outside is nagging away at me.
"Mmh..." A soft, kitty-like yawn passes Miku's lips. Her head is propped against my shoulder, and her eyelids are growing droopy.
"I thought you said you weren't tired," I snicker in a slightly playful manner. I shift myself under the blanket we're sharing, pushing a bit more of it over to her. She could do with the warmth more than me.
"I'm… I'm not..." She's clearly lying. I'm not even sure why she wants to stay awake so badly. Perhaps she's scared, too. It's only natural.
With a light sigh, I pull my knees up to my chest under the blanket, hugging myself. Sure, this fire has been going for a while and it's kind of soothing… And these blankets are surprisingly quite clean and comfortable, but… I'm still just a little cold. Every now and then, a harsh chill creeps its way down the hall into the library from upstairs. "It's best to get some sleep," I lecture her.
"I know, but… I feel guilty sleeping, while everyone else is worrying," she quietly responds. She speaks in a low tone, but it's obvious everyone else can hear regardless.
I flick my glance around the fire. We're all in a sort of circle, bundled up together in small groups under these blankets. We grabbed a few from upstairs, and even bought spare just in case Una and her friends ever show up. Neru and Dell are fast asleep together; we plopped a blanket over the two when we came back down without waking them. Gakupo has his arms wrapped around Gumi, holding her close until she wakes up. And poor Rin is sitting opposite me and Miku, a dull expression on her face, the warm orange glow of the fire reflecting in her equally dreary eyes. Len hasn't showed up, either. I can't even imagine how lonely she must be feeling right now.
As strange as this situation is, part of me is actually… happy. There's no fighting any more. It's peaceful. It hasn't been like this for a while… It's nice. But I mean, on the other hand, we're kinda fucked, huh. I just hope everybody else can find their way here before it's too late.
In the midst of the silence, and maybe just waiting for the inevitable… A pang of boredom strikes. Oh, that's just rich, isn't it? I have the privilege of being bored before freezing to death. Scoffing under my breath, I trail my glance to the left. There's a bookshelf beside me. What are the chances one of these books will be in a language I can understand? Without shuffling and disturbing Miku too much, I stick an arm out from under the blanket and make a strained grab for the nearest book.
"Hmm… Whatcha got there…?" comes her cute, sleepy murmur of curiosity.
"Huh… This book isn't as dusty as I expected," I mutter, raising a brow in surprise. Well, slight surprise. I return to my original comfy position, pulling my other arm out and resting the book in my lap. "Ah, don't mind me, Mi-chan… Just kind of bored, heh." I run my fingertips over the cover. Hardback. There's a strange symbol embedded into the cover; a circle with five different elements carved into each corner and the middle.
"Mm… What's that…? Looks like fire." Miku puffs her cheeks out, tapping at the left corner of the circle with her finger.
"Ah, that's right. It's like a flame." Taking the time to actually check out the symbol closer, there's not just a flame, but other small cravings representing the elements. A water drop, a leaf, the basic outline of air trails… And in the centre of those, a single star. As I register those symbols, it's as though something is sparked within me. I've seen this group of carvings somewhere before. But… That can't be. They're so familiar… I end up staring blankly down at them, losing track of time, trying to pin where I could've seen them before.
"Kaito-kun?" Miku's worried tone snaps me out of that trance a few moments later.
"H-Huh?" I blink a couple of times, finally pulling my eyes from the cover.
"She called your name about five times," Rin softly giggles, piping up for the first time in a while. And thankfully, she doesn't sound as depressed as she looks. Poor girl. But still, five times and I didn't hear her?
"Ah… My bad..." A nervous chuckle escapes me. "This is just so, uh… fascinating, right?" I try to come up with an excuse as to why I had been idly gawking at it, but that doesn't really make much sense. Miku knows that I…
"What do you mean? You aren't that interested in books." Yep. There it is.
"Hmm, you shouldn't lie to your girlfriend of all people, Kaito-san..." Gakupo decides to butt in with his take on the situation – an unwanted take, at that. He pulls his eyes from Gumi. Even when he should be prioritising taking care of his own girlfriend, he still has to slide in with that irritating voice of his…!
Burning, I snap at him without thinking. "Mind your damn business, Kamui-!"
"Shh!" Miku, Rin and Gakupo immediately hush me in unison before I yell the place down.
"Grrr..." I grumble, seething. Yeah, I had just been ridiculously inconsiderate there. But… damn it… He should focus on himself and Gumi…! Muttering curses under my breath, I look back down at the book as a distraction.
"Ehh… P-Pretty illustrations, right?" Miku lightens the tone, a slight nervous hint to her voice as she speaks.
Deep breath, Kaito. Don't let the demon get to you. Good to see some things haven't changed with that brat. "Yeah," I sigh. About time I open this thing. Flicking it open to a random page, I land somewhere in the middle. The pages are slightly creased and there are signs of age, but there's not a huge load of dust or anything hiding inside. Scanning my eyes over it, I take in some of the text at the top of the page. Hmm. 'The Great Talismans of Wispia'. I can't believe I can understand some of this; it should be nonsense, shouldn't it?
Before I get a chance to read it out-loud to Miku and the others, a light echo of a voice stops me short of opening my mouth.
"I think we're getting close now..."
Moving my glance up from the book, I dart my eyes around the small room, trying to figure out where exactly it's coming from. It takes a couple of moments, but I'm able to register and recognise that mature tone almost straight away.
"H-Hey, do you guys hear that…?" Miku is the first to ask.
"Yeah…" Gakupo and Rin nod together, both sounding a little on edge.
"Don't worry," I say. "I think it sounds like Xingchen. She and her friends must've found this place at last." At least, I think it's her. The way she screamed at that unknown threat earlier flashes in my mind. Such raw fearlessness, not to mention the booming power behind her voice… She's actually kind of scary. It's hard to forget a voice like that. But I'm sure they'll be glad to see their Mahogany Creek friends again, at the very least.
"Oh, th-that's good!" Rin tries her best to come across as positive, but it must sting knowing those girls are safe when her brother isn't. She doesn't bother to look over her shoulder at the little hallway behind her.
Soon enough, the girls come into sight. Of course, they've formed a single file to fit. The first thing I notice is that Xingchen is carrying one of her friends in her arms, clutching her tightly; the creases on her forehead become more apparent the closer they come.
"Oh no, it looks like Una-san isn't doing too good either," Miku says, a frown pulling at her lips.
Ah, I see… The girl in Xingchen's arms is her shy blue-haired friend. This isn't good at all.
She looks exhausted but she powers through to the end of the hallway. I'm sure she's seen us all by now, but she remains silent. Her mind must be focused on Una. When she squeezes out of the small gap, her eyes immediately lock onto the makeshift fire.
"H-Hey, how are you girls holding up…?" Ugh, maybe that's a dumb question, but the atmosphere in here just got a lot more tense. I'm struggling to think of better things to say.
Huffing rather heavily, Xingchen braces herself momentarily, then kneels to the floor. She lowers Una's sleeping body, securely planting her down in the gap between Rin and me.
"O-Oh, I didn't realise everybody else was here…!" Aoki pops out of the hallway a couple moments later, eyes widening as she sets her sights upon the rest of us. She sounds as though she's out of breath herself.
"And here I thought that creep only took revenge on the four of us," Merli grunts, through gritted teeth. Huh, that creep…? She must mean that mysterious figure from before.
Xingchen purses her lips, turning her head from left to right, taking in her surroundings. "You have blankets?" She directs her question to those who are awake right now, but for some reason, she stares right at me as she asks.
"Uh, um..." I can't help but blink a couple of times in confusion.
Miku tilts her head to the side, darting her suspicious glare between me and Xingchen. "Yeah, we brought down some spare. Kaito-kun thought you girls might show up sooner or later." Uh oh. Her tone is dripping with jealousy. Why on earth would she think such a thing?!
Sweat is starting to form at my forehead. I shift a little under the blanket, sort of squirming in discomfort as Xingchen focuses her glance on me for a few moments. I release a shaky breath once she moves to the pile of spare blankets and swoops one up.
"Well, we're holding up alright, I guess," Aoki mumbles, lowering her eyes. She sets herself onto the floor where there's some space, but with everyone here now, it's getting a bit cramped. Not that I mind. While she gets as comfortable as she can, Merli takes the other blanket and then plonks herself right next to her sister.
"Una-san fainted a little while ago," Merli sighs softly.
Xingchen's expression twitches a bit at the mention of Una. She's busy wrapping the blanket over the blue-haired girl. It's just like Neru and Gumi. I guess it kind of makes sense… None of us are used to such harsh conditions.
"Hm… Len-san is missing, too?" Aoki asks after a brief silence, curiously glancing around the circle.
Rin drags her knees up to her chest, a small huff passing her lips. "Mhm," she quietly mutters.
"He's been missing since… well, the night of the concert," Gakupo says in her place.
"You don't think…?" Merli locks eyes with Aoki, a serious glint reflecting in her orbs for a short second. She immediately trails off, as though not daring to finish that suggestion.
That's kind of piqued my interest. I raise a brow, wondering what could possibly be going through their minds.
"Don't be ridiculous…!" Aoki scolds her sister straight away, and I'm kind of taken back by it. I don't think I've ever heard her so serious.
"S-Sorry," Merli whimpers, puffing her cheeks out in an exaggerated manner. Kind of like a child who's been told off.
"Well..." I cough lightly, hoping to clear the suffocating atmosphere. I look over at Xingchen, who's gotten Una all nice and wrapped up. However, she's not bothering to cover herself with the blanket.
"A-Aren't you cold…?" Miku puts on a gentle smile when she addresses Xingchen, trying to be friendly and all, but she's met with a deadpan stare. "Mmh…!" She lets out a whine, one just loud enough for me to hear, but hopefully the others can't hear it. Yep, Xingchen is totally scary.
"Una-san needs it more than me." She answers, perhaps a beat too late. Her mind must've been elsewhere. Either that or she's pretty damn selective on choosing when to respond. I can't figure this girl out.
"Hm..." I've almost forgotten all about the book in my lap. I lost interest once the girls arrived, but now that silence hangs between us once more, maybe this is a good chance to shift the conversation away from that unbearable awkwardness. I get the feeling these girls don't trust us like Gakupo, Gumi and Rin do. Well, too bad. If we're all stuck here together…
"Kaito-san." Just as I'm about to change the subject, she bluntly addresses me.
I can't help but squirm a little at the direct tone. Oh god, she's gawking at me with those empty eyes again. Please, crack a smile, just once…! "Heh… Yes?" Shoving aside those thoughts, I respond with a slightly strained grin.
"Do you have any idea how we got here?"
"Eh…?" I'm thrown off by that question. Why ask me, of all people?
"I don't think Kaito-san is the best person to ask," Gakupo says, without taking his eyes off Gumi. He echoes my thoughts, but he does so in a more crude fashion, along with sneaking a sly jab in there, as usual.
"Don't you start with me again, Kamui, I swear to-"
"I'm asking because you were one of the people who saw what happened," Xingchen smoothly interrupts me, tone as calm as ever.
"H-Hey, you don't trust me to give my account?" Gakupo butts in, this time looking over at us with a dramatic frown on his face. Maybe I should be offended that she doesn't trust him, but then again, revenge is sweet.
Being selective once more, Xingchen seems to drown the purple-haired male out, focusing intently on me. "Well?" She presses me further.
"Well..." I rub at the back of my neck. It's still blurry.
"I think you're asking a bit much of him..." Miku speaks in my defense after a pause that seems to last forever. Ah, what an angel…! She'll probably be able to see how flustered this is making me.
Xingchen holds that uncomfortable gaze for a little longer… And to my surprise, she gives in. "My apologies. I was curious."
"Whew," I sigh under my breath. I catch Miku's eyes for a second, and there's a glimmer of a smile in there.
"Xingchen, I think once everyone is awake, we should tell them..." Merli suggests, although the context is pretty vague.
"Yes, it's about time, isn't it?" the girl answers, nodding once in agreement.
"What do you mean by that?" Rin lifts her head up from her knees, apparently drawn into the conversation by her curiosity.
"Let's hold out for a bit longer, everyone," Xingchen looks between us. Her tone has taken a mature turn again… Although at least this time it's not so scary. More like she's taking responsibility for… Whatever this is. "We can't keep this a secret any more. If your friends pull through this, then we must begin to take action."
…
