DISCLAIMER: Watashi wa Bokuxx (Kotori Huwat?) and Sunrise own Love Live!
"And I'd choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I'd find you and I'd choose you." – Kiersten White
A/N: It's hard to call Kotori, Hanayo, Nozomi and Nico one by one so I refer them as 'chosen'
'Great fall' – where all angels that defy their Deity were casted out on their world and fell here on Nico's world
Chapter IV
"Hellions"
All eyes are only darted towards a pair of girl wearing different uniform and unlike the laid back aura those two were giving, the other 4 pairs are giving a menacing aura. They are being cautious with every movement of the pair.
Umi stopped from observing the pair and look towards her co-contractors on the other side of the room and table
Eri, Rin and Maki were standing in front of their partners, they are keeping their chosen's distance from the two. She can see Eri trying to make herself calm with her tensed shoulders and arhythmical breathing, Rin constricting her eyes like a cat sensing a danger and Maki with a tensed jaw and furious expression with a mix of fear.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the table, Erena is standing straight with her usual expressionless face and Anju besides her playing the ends of her hair while getting amused with the contractors' actions.
Umi and Kotori was in the middle of everything. Kotori is giving a worried expression on Umi when the silence was finally cutted
"What's the meaning of this Umi" Eri questioned, her trembling voice makes her complete rejection of the sight in front of her obvious, she continue "Why did you let them enter our school? You know that Kotori and others are in danger because of what you did"
"Eri I have reasonable explanation" Umi stated calmly "They won't do anything"
"Then why are you also getting cautious with them nya?" Rin stated a complete fact as she eye Umi in front of Kotori doing the same thing like them, she's also keeping Kotori's distance far from Anju's
"Rin, I just want to keep Kotori safe if something happens"
"Ah, Sonoda that make me hurt" All of them shifted their attention again when they heard Anju, they put their guards on while eyeing every movement of the girl "I thought you trust me, didn't we talked about it already?" Anju continued with fake hurt expression
"Don't dare to move from that place Yuuki" Eri snarled "Or we'll kill both of you"
This made Anju stop from playing her hair and give a heartful laugh, she face Erena on the middle of her laugh and said
"Erena! Do they know what they are saying?"
"I hope yes, but no they don't" Erena replied
Eri and others are quiet offended on it, it irritates them but when Eri was about to retort, Anju got her first
"Are you guys provoking us?" She's done laughing but there are some tears on the corner on her eye, Anju swiped it "All of us knows the big difference between our abilities, even all of you gang up on us, we knows that you're the one who's going to be killed"
This fact made everyone silent, Anju continue her intimidation with seriousness on her voice
"We are casted out and abandoned by our Deity, that why we became 'evicted' then all of you choose to be contractors while us choose to be Hellion-"
The murderous aura from the contractors and the hellion gives a shiver to the 'chosen's' spine, and made them step towards their contractor
Nico who was getting confused on what Anju's saying tugged Maki's uniform
"Hey, who are they? For a second I thought they are wanderers" Nico whispered to Maki, and it made Maki slightly turn her head to Nico without leaving her gaze into Anju's
"Your hand" Said Maki while keeping her voice low so Anju won't notice them, Nico confusingly complied, she held out her hand and Maki took it, then the crimson haired girl intertwined their hands
Nico was surprised at first, she could feel Maki's hand getting sweaty from her nervousness
"I'll explain it short, You wont see any wanderers until our bond is broken. 'Evicted' are what humans called fallen angels. 'Contractors' are 'evicted' who made contract with humans while 'Hellions' are those who don't and decided to go underworld" Maki paused and finally look at Nico "Their personality are completely different than ours, they kill for their own entertainment. They are also the one tempting the living to sin"
Maki tightened her hold on Nico's hand
"So matter what happen don't remove your hands from mine" Nico held the drilling gaze that Maki is giving to her and she replied
"S-sure"
Then Maki gave her a small smile
Maki and Nico focused again on what Anju was saying with their hands intertwined.
"I don't know, why are you guys still hoping that our Deity will forgive you? It's been already how many years since the 'great fall' and yet there still no contractors that was being forgiven and can return from our world above. Add the fact that being a contractor just weaken you that hellion like us can kill you easily. Where does your bravery comes from?"
Anju paused and silence fall, she scan all the contractors on the room until someone speak
"I think it's because of their faith" Nozomi speaks without fear "They are safe up until now because of their faith on your Deity, He might not letting the contractors return from your worlds but He's still watching over them" Nozomi paused as she step forward beside Eri with a fearful expression for the purple haired girl then she continue with a venomous voice
"Eri and others are not abandoned. Hellions like both of you are the one who made your Deity abandoned you by siding with Lucifer"
Nozomi's usual playful voice isn't there and upon hearing this, Anju's eyebrows twitch from irritation
"Heh~" Anju let out a word of amusement "Then let's find out if your Deity still watching over you-contractors on this room" She smirked then made her way towards Eri and Nozomi.
Everyone put their guards on
Anju while in the middle of walking towards the pair, constricted her eyes while gazing at Eri and then the blonde flinched when she felt a sudden pain on her cheek, she touched it and saw blood on her hands. Her cheek was sliced by Anju
All of them saw what Anju did, this made Rin and Maki became more cautious on their surrounding as they mentally prepared their weapons to be materialized but they were interrupted by Umi's actions
Umi pushed Kotori gently behind her and then took a step forward, the ground shaken as it crack from Umi's step, the crack quickly travels between Anju and the other contractors on the side before the hellion got near at them.
All of the eyes were turned towards the perpetrator. Umi's calm expression is visible yet a fearful aura surrounds her
"Calm down everyone. I didn't gather all of you here to kill each other but to discuss something important"
"I'm not the one who started it" Anju snorts while glaring towards Umi
"Anju" Erena called, her voice was filled with warning
"What?" Anju replied irritably
"Stop it or Tsubasa will kill you without second thought when she heard this"
Anju jerks and ponders for a while, then she complied with a tsk as she kick a chair, she return from her position. This made Umi glanced at Erena and Erena responded with a nod.
"Umi-chan" Kotori called and when Umi look into her she saw Kotori taking a few step into her sides, she gave Umi a reassuringly smile and it was reciprocated by Umi's tired smile. Umi didn't let everyone wait so she started
"Tsubasa-san already made hellion's deity 'Lucifer' agree on our terms" She stated and it makes everyone except Kotori and the hellion pair flabbergasted "They won't attack or kill any one of us-contractors, chosens and living persons now, but they will still continue to tempt living ones. It depends now on humans whether they will fall into sin or not"
"You guys are lucky that Lucifer's right hand and most trusted evicted fell in love with a human, not to mention your friend" Anju added but after she was warned again by Erena by an icy glare. She clicked her tongue out of annoyance
Umi didn't mind what Anju said and continued "Tsubasa-san now was appointed and acts as an official mediator between contractor and hellions. Our term is being implemented now. Whoever hellion kill or try to hurt someone will be killed immediately by Tsubasa-san"
"How can she act like a mediator if she's a contractor?" Eri finally speaks "She's like us, I doubt she can kill even one hellion"
"So you guys are admitting now-"Anju tried to butt in again but was interrupted by Erena who elbowed her arms
"Yuuki and Toudou spoke with me before I call all of you" Umi stated as she blindly find Kotori's hand besides her, when she felt Kotori's hand she intertwined it. She miss Kotori's hand "Lucifer authorized Tsubasa-san a power greater than Hellions but not as greater than him, that's why Hellions fear her more than before"
Umi eyed everyone and she can see that they are somehow relaxing now from what they heard
"Rest assured. Our safety is guaranteed now"
But not a certain someone bought what Umi had said
A crimson haired girl let go of Nico's hand then slam both of her hands hard on the table in front of her, it gathers everyone's attentions
"I don't believe any of these!" She snarled at Umi then shot the hellions a deathly glare "Why are you guys trusting these two!" she paused and grinded her teeth for a second "They are Hellions! They are Sly! Every words of them can't be trusted!" Maki finished everyone can see her furious expression and disapproval on everything Umi had said
"For your Information Nishikino" Anju started again, Erena can't do anything with her friend, Anju's actions made her face palm "These aren't my words nor Erena but Tsubasa" She paused and copied what Maki did, she also slam her hands on the table "We are here because Tsubasa made us come here"
"Then bring Tsubasa here" Maki pin-pointed at the table "I'll never be reassured if it's not Tsubasa who talk to us"
"She's still busy finalizing things"
"I don't believe you"
"What's with you Nishikino?!"Anju's voice is starting to shout out of irritation "We Hellions are the one who agreed on your term and yet you're doubting us?!" She also shot a glare towards the crimson haired girl "If Lucifer didn't agree on your stupid proposal then I would be there slashing your throat right now"
Everyone was silent as they watch Anju and Maki argue, they can feel the hostile presence that the two were giving, and they don't want to be thrown between them
Nico could only watch Maki in front of her arguing with the Hellion, her face were contorted because of getting furious, then it came to Nico, she needed to make Maki calm down before something happens.
"It's normal to doubt you! After all, the likes of you are the one who killed-" Maki retorted again but she stopped on the middle of her sentence when she felt a hand holding hers, she was surprise as she slowly turn her head towards the girl behind her.
There was Nico, looking down at their intertwined hands, Maki immediately calm down upon seeing the determined look at Nico's face as the raven haired girl tightened her hold on Maki's. Then Nico said the following words
"You told me to not let go of your hand" Nico avert her eyes trying to avoid Maki's eyes "But you're the one who let go of my hand that's why I hold yours again"
Maki were surprise to say anything and everyone can see it. Kotori and Nozomi smile at the sight.
"If you couldn't trust what they just said then at least trust Umi's decision for all of us" Nico's action made her shy not just her but also the crimson haired girl. Maki avert her eyes away from Nico and tried to act like it doesn't concern her.
Then together they fell silent.
Nico was successful on making Maki calm down all throughout the discussion.
It's already been a week since the commotion on the clubroom and Nico could still remember the feeling of Maki's hands on her and the crimson haired girl's body when she was hugged.
She hate to admit it but It's different than Nozomi's or her other friends, it's more comfortable and more reassuring
And it's already been a week that Eri and others are starting to relax gradually because of what Umi had said, but they are still keeping theirselves prepared.
Nozomi said that Hellions are quite numerous back then unlike today, and Erena confirmed it because it became boring for them living here after they implement the terms, and most of them decided to go back on underworld.
Whenever Umi and others saw a hellion they still put their guards on, but hellions won't do anything to them and always mention Tsubasa's name.
Indeed they fear Tsubasa
But there still one crimson haired girl who can't still accept everything.
And she was sitting in front of her in the clubroom. Maki was sitting with her arms and legs crossed and an expressionless face. Nico noticed she wasn't doing her usual mannerism playing with the end of her hair and Maki was silently drilling a gaze through the table.
While Nico was on her usual place near the window, leaning on the table while waiting for her pianist even though she knows that this pianist won't play because her contractor is with her.
They've been like that for already an hour then Nico's thoughts wanders how Maki acts lately.
She noticed that Maki is acting odd, she usually walks behind her or in front of her but now after what happened on the student council room, she's already walking besides her and sometimes hold her wrist, not just that, Maki now isn't keeping her distance on Nico anymore but she could feel that she's drifting too far from her. Maki also would always ask where Nico is going, she's now sleeping on Nico's room and whenever they walk towards their home, Maki won't let Nico pass the pedestrian lane until Maki can't see a car anymore.
It's becoming hard now for Nico to move since Maki became like this
And this kind of situation is difficult for both of them because they can't bring theirselves to speak what's on their mind. They are not used to this kind of things.
Maybe Nico, a little, but when she tried to talk what's bothering her mind lately , and that's what Anju said, to Maki, the crimson haired girl would always fell silent and give an agonizing expression just like that day, when she was hugged. So Nico decided to give Maki more time to prepare and explain everything to her.
Cause Nico knows without interaction with the crimson haired girl that she could trust and put her life into Maki's hands.
But she forgot everything about what Maki wanted for her safety when she became excited upon hearing the familiar melody on the next room.
Nico immediately perk then looks outside the window, she completely forgot the girl on her thoughts.
She turn around and put her hands on the table to support her while leaning forward. Eyes closed, she listened to her favorite song that the anonymous pianist would always play for her.
The melody always brings smile to the raven haired girl's face, but after a few seconds of listening, it raise Nico's eyebrows.
Something is not right
Nico thought, she knows it by listening to the melody that It wasn't as gentle just like the pianist would always play, but it just brings more happiness on Nico, she thought that her certain pianist isn't on mood right now and the pianist is gradually opening up and letting Nico to knows her emotions.
Nico return her smile as she sings
"Waratte yo kanashinara fuki to basou yo
Waraetara kawaru keshiki harema ga nozoku
Fuan demo shiawase e to tsunagaru michi ga
Miete kita yo na aozora"
[Smile, When you're sad let's blow it all away
If you can laugh the scenery will change peeking through the clearing weather
Even when you're unsure the road leading to happiness
Comes into view under the blue sky]
Then Nico paused and let the melody continue, she open her eyes and stands up, the raven haired girl is grinning widely now from the idea that came to her.
Nico really want to see and meet the anonymous Pianist and she will do everything with this opportunity that her pianist played even someone is on their clubroom. Luckily it was her contractor with abilities, and one of it was opening a door even though its lock. This is what usually Maki done when Nico left her door locked when Maki is already going to sleep on her room.
Nishikino could open the music room using her abilities
Due to her excitement she didn't notice neither see the sudden change on Maki's demeanor, due to her excitement Nico didn't notice that the girl is starting to tremble out of fear while staring into nowhere. Due to her excitement she didn't notice that Maki's got frightened upon hearing a familiar melody.
A melody that belongs only for her and Nico.
So how can the person next door play her melody for Nico? Cause she's certain that she's the only one who knows how to play it
"Nishikino I want you to do something for me"
The raven haired girl said cheerfully as she began to run and tried to drag Maki outside, but the crimson haired girl didn't budge a movement while getting lost on her own thoughts and certain possibilities of what might happened. Another thought came to Nico when she noticed that Maki won't move from her sit.
This Nishikino will definitely run after me if I got lost on her sight.
Nico gave a sly smile and quickly run outside of their clubroom without a second thought, as what she expected Maki jerks from her sit when the door was opened and hurriedly stands up to run after Nico.
"Hey!" Maki panicked and called for the raven haired girl "Where are you going?!" She questioned with a wavering voice. Nico can't see it but Maki was definitely giving a panic mixed with nervous, worried and frightened expression as she follows the petite girl in front of the Music room beside the clubroom, Nico was trying to turn the knob and open the door.
Maki only run a few feet yet her breathing is getting heavier than she had experienced before. She stop running in a distance that is too far from Nico and too far from the door that Nico is trying to open.
Why is Maki keeping her distance? What is she afraid of?
"H-Hey" Maki tried to call Nico's attention again for the second time yet the petite girl is still busy knocking and turning the doorknob with the hope that the door would open.
"Come here, we need to call Umi and others" Maki paused and nervously swallow the lump on her throat "We need to get out of here"
But Nico didn't even try to look or face Maki neither listen to the afraid girl
"Nishikino Help me here" Nico's voice is starting to sound irritated "Do what you always do to my door to unlock it"
"Please" Maki pleaded and this made Nico stop from what she's doing.
The raven haired girl finally release her hold on the door knob as she slowly turn around to face the crimson haired girl.
Maki was behind her, standing with both fist closed tight and giving a worried expression mixed with fear. Nico could notice now that Maki is giving the same expression that she had last week.
Then what Maki said surprised Nico
"Nico-chan please" Maki pleaded again with a wavering voice and the raven haired girl could notice that anytime or any minute, Maki will broke into tears.
This girl really piques Nico's soft side
Worriedly, Nico was about to walk towards the crimson haired girl, to hold her hand, to hug her just like what Maki did for Nico and reassure her but she was stop by the sound of the opening door behind her
Nico and Maki didnt notice that the familiar melody already stopped
Both of them flinched on where they are standing and directed their gaze on the opening door, what Maki saw pull out her blood all over her body, she paled upon the realization that the thing that she's most afraid of is just in front of her. Or to say it properly
In front of the girl she love
While Nico was currently dumbstruck when she thought that her certain pianist finally shows herself to Nico. It made Nico's heart skip a beat. After 3 years, the raven haired girl finally saw the pianist that she adore so much.
She was filled of joy, excitement and nervousness to start saying something. She don't know how to start a conversation.
But confusion was immediately added to Nico when she heard the girl on the door speaks
"Well, Isn't it a Yazawa?"
The girl gave an amused face and sly grin that makes Nico took a step backwards. The girl that she thought her pianist was leaning on the frame of the door with a murderous aura like Anju and Erena emits
"N-Nico-chan" Maki called hoping that Nico will immediately run towards her, she can't move or act recklessly, cause if she did both of them might be in danger.
Just hearing Maki's trembling voice, it dawned into Nico that everything is not fine. The crimson haired girl won't tremble like this if everything is fine. Nico began to become nervous and became absorbed of the thoughts that confused her
Is she really the mysterious pianist on that room? B-But..
Nico can't accept the fact that her certain pianist that she adore so much was here to threatened or worst, run after her life. She felt betrayed by her gentle and relaxing melodies that uplift her and cure her from her siblings' death.
It broke her heart
"Aren't I blessed by our Deity today?" The girl speaks with a playful hint on her voice "A Yazawa is the one who came to find me" then darted a gaze towards Maki "Not to mention 'Yazawa Nico'"
"Kuroki" Maki tried to think as clearly as she can and prepared for what might happened "Stop this already"
But Maki was ignored and the next words brought them into despair
"Would you like to know how it is feels to die for the second time?" Kuroki look at Nico with a black intent on her eyes then said the following words with her sweet voice "Nico-chan?"
How many times does she need to see the raven haired girl on the corner of her room? How many times does she need to see her on the verge of tears? How many times does she need to see her sobbing, crying and agonizing?
How many times does Maki need to see Nico broken because of her siblings' death?
She did. Not just once, not just twice, but thrice.
And every time she see Nico broke, she want to comfort the raven haired girl, walk towards her, pat her head, hold her hands, hug her, and kiss her on her temple as she cry on her shoulders, but she can't bring herself to, cause she's afraid.
The only common things that they share was their sigh, tears and pain.
But Maki was glad that Nico met and enjoyed her music
So how many times does Maki need to comfort Nico from afar using her music?
She's afraid that she don't know.
How many times does Maki need to play for Nico to uplift her on being downcast because of her siblings' death?
She knows, it was thrice.
She always had a hard time making Nico stands on her own foot again when her siblings died. But she love Nico, that's why she cannot bear to see the raven haired girl broken.
The crimson haired girl breaks whenever Nico fall into despair
Maki can't help herself to think that's it's her fault. Is it really her fault? Half of it were yes and the half is no.
This tragedy wont happened to the Yazawa's if she didn't fell in love with Nico. Nico won't be broken if she hadn't fell in love with the girl.
She wanted to curse herself, but every time she see the raven haired girl recovering she can't help herself to become glad with the results.
Unbeknownst to them, they both heal each other
But still, Maki can't remove her guilt.
And it all thanks to a certain Hellion. The Hellion who fall in love and was rejected by Maki. The hellion who would do anything just to mess up her life, and that includes Nico.
The girl who became her world and her life.
The only human that she love
Now, how many times does Maki need to see her siblings die consecutively? How many times did Maki do her best to save her siblings but she can't? How many times does Maki need to hug a lifeless body of Nico's siblings?
When can she do something? If she became a hellion? When she got already a power as great as them to kill that certain Hellion?
When can everything be all right? When Nico recovers already from their death? Can you really call everything if that time comes 'all right' or 'fine'?
Maki comes to her lowest state that one day she decided to become a Hellion but luckily, Eri and others didn't let her to become one.
Then after a week she become the contractor of the girl she love
And this is the crimson haired girl's current question right now.
How many times can she bear the sight of Nico dying?
Dying because of her
Dying in front of her.
When she can't do anything, and everything is too late.
The answer this time is only once and she won't take it thrice. Because the girl she love will be lost forever if it became twice.
Hiya Guys!
I made this chapter 'angst'ier ( is there a word like this?) than the previous chapters and I really tried my best to put myself into Maki's position. This is harder than I thought
So how is it? I hope this chapter live into your expectations my beloved readers or I failed you to make this chapter angst?
Giving your thoughts will really help me, feel free to drop criticism or questions, they will be gladly welcome.
And of course! I won't forget those who reviewed, fav'ed and followed this story. It really made my day complete every time I saw a new notification on my email.
About what Anonymous 'shipper'-san asked. To tell you the truth my sembreak is going to end on November, I know it's near, and I'm excited to become an 'Intern' starting this November. I hope you understand my dear readers that because of that, I'll only have a little amount of time to write for the upcoming chapters.
Please bear with my slow updates.
And I really hope that this community won't die when I already update my story Haha
So… I'll stop my blabberings now and present you an extra story on what happened after Nico died.
And how contractors made contract with their 'Chosen'
Enjoy *chirp chirp
…
After a few seconds of watching the snow, she saw something different, she saw white feathers with the snow gracefully falling down on her, she didn't seem to be faze by it and just watch it, being entranced with the scene in front of her. Until she perceive a shadow on her, she tiredly turn her face towards the owner of the shadow and there she saw, an amethysts eyes bore on her and the crimson hair that is gently flowing with the wind of winter, the girl is standing beside her with a deadpan expression
"Wh-who…. Are… you?.." Nico manage to say but she receive no reply, the girl just watch her not moving a single inch and then she felt the tiredness, everything is starting to becomes dark.
But before she become unconscious, she heard the other girl. "What a pitiful human" with a voice with no interest.
And then darkness envelope her and was cut off from this world.
Maki's calm and deadpan façade was completely tear off when she saw the raven haired girl lying on the ground, when she saw Nico's lifeless body on the ground.
Maki can't believe what she's seeing, the crimson haired girl can't believe that the current thing that she's most afraid of happened right now.
She can't do anything, she's too late to help Nico.
She slowly walks towards the dead while scanning every wounds on Nico's body then stumble and fall hard on her knees besides Nico's body. Maki felt so weak. Her hands touch something like a liquid, she unconsciously raised her hands to see it and it was blood, it made her look around and all she could see was blood
Nico's blood is all over the place
She made a fist then slam them hardly on the ground. The ground shaken once because of Maki's action and the car's siren started to resound around, but Maki didn't mind her surroundings.
She hangs her head low with her shoulders trembling, she really hate humans, she wanted to hate everyone, and she wanted to hate their Deity.
Just how Maki hates herself
Tears started to flow and run on her cheeks, and her tensed body relaxes as her emotion took over her body. She reach, lift the upper half of Nico's body and hugged it. It's starting to get cold from the winter's wind and Maki tightened her hug hoping that the body's warm will return from hugging it. Maki's clothes got stained by the raven haired girl's blood but she didn't mind
She buried her heads into Nico's tresses and desperately gave a repeated small shake the girl on her arms, hoping that she'll wake up
"N-Ni-Nico-chan" She was sobbing now "C-come on wake up"
But Nico didn't and Maki became devastated for the 4th time. Maki burst into tears yet the raven haired girl can't hear her agony.
Maki don't know what to do anymore, she become pretty laid back after noticing that the certain hellion behind all of these became silent for almost 3 years after killing Nico's 3 siblings consecutively. Maki thought that she already gave up on torturing Nico emotionally.
But now after the only human that Maki love got recovered from her siblings' death, this hellion came again, not to take someone's life that is important to the raven haired girl but to take Nico's life
Maki thinks that it's all her fault
Will she be forgiven by the Yazawa's? Will she be forgiven by Nico?
Maki didn't know but she really need to see her raven haired girl smiling and singing again, even it's not because of her.
Maki thanked Eri and other from the bottom of her heart that they didn't let her to become a Hellion.
And she could become the contractor of the girl she love
The crimson haired girl lean back a little and look on Nico's face and mentally prepared. She slowly lessen the distance between them then Maki planted a gentle kiss on Nico's lips as she concentrate on making a contract with Nico. She hold her kiss and just let some of her strength and force out of her body and transfer into Nico's.
Then finally, she felt Nico's first pounding heartbeat.
Finally Maki heard Nico's steady breathing
And finally Maki felt Nico's warm starting to return
Maki felt relieved and broke the kiss then hugged again the unconscious girl on her arms. The crimson haired girl buried her head on Nico's locks.
She became determined
Maki will never allow others to break the bond that she made with Nico.
