Where are you going? Can I come too? Or…or are you going to leave me here? Don't leave me…please don't leave me. I need you…
He was walking away. He had come back, and now he was leaving again. My legs shook, I couldn't follow after him. Instead, I felt my legs crumble from beneath me. Felt my body fall to the dusty earth.
He cast a quick glance back at me, his green eyes so beautiful before he once more disappeared.
He was gone. Gone again.
Something wet streamed down my cheek. Something bitter and salty. Tears. Heh, tears. I was crying again. I had become so weak without him.
I closed my eyes, begging them to put me to sleep once more, to let me dream something happy again.
The last thing I saw was dozens of pairs of human feet.
*
The footsteps drew closer, light and gracefully stepped. There was a creak. The last stair on the flight always creaked when someone walked over it.
Just details I pick up, nothing more.
The footsteps stopped for a moment a little whiles behind me, as if trying to fully take in the sight of who was sitting in the wooden chair in the middle of the room. Then suddenly, the light, graceful footsteps became loud and pounding stomps on the spotless floors.
My doing, as it always was.
"Where have you been ALL AFTERNOON?!" asked a very pissed voice.
I didn't answer right away, but first took a moment to look at the clock hanging on the wall. 2:00.
"WELL?! I was waiting for you!"
I sighed and stood up shakily, turning to the girl who was glaring at me angrily and tapping her left foot. Her blue eyes could have burned a hole through my body.
"I just went out for a little while, that's all, Mila."
"AND?!"
"And I met an old friend in the market. And we talked. And that's the entire truth." Mila sighed and shook her head. "I was hoping that we could take some time off tonight and go to the festival…" Then she gave me a quick hug and smiled. "But we CAN'T if you're out taking walks all day."
The summer festival, of course. The reason why this town was so crowded in the first place. Tonight was the first night of the festival.
I grinned and grabbed my broom out of the corner and gave her a quick kiss. "Okay, then."
Nodding, she turned and disappeared up the stairs again.
There was a heavy wooden 'CLONK' on the floor as the broom toppled to the floor and I collapsed into a chair. The floor was clean already – even I had to admit that. There really wasn't much else to do.
It wasn't like with Kharl-sama, when there was always something to do, someone to pick up after. That man could single-handedly outdo a tornado.
But, looking back, I didn't mind. I didn't mind at all…
"Kharl-sama…"
"ONIISAN!" The door was flung open, banging loudly against the wall and sending bits of plaster fluttering to the floor. I would have to clean that up later, otherwise people might complain.
In the doorway stood Ari, out of breath, eyes wide, halfway between excitement and shock. He scampered over to me and began to tug on my arm.
"Oniisan, oniisan, your friend's dead!"
Friend? Kharl-sama?!
"What do you mean?!" I asked, startled.
"He's lying in the middle of the street! He's not moving! There's a lot of people!"
He didn't have to pull me down the road this time. In fact, I found myself running down the street in less than a second.
Kharl-sama hurt…or sick…in trouble. I couldn't bear the thought. I had to be there with him…I had to help him!
My mind began to wander, the people passing me a blur. How many times had he needed me, called for me, and got no response? How many times did he fall ill without me there to help him?
I felt strangely sick, disoriented. But I didn't stop.
What Ari had deemed, 'lots of people' was actually about a dozen people grouped around Kharl-sama's limp form. I rushed over and knelt down by him.
He was still breathing. He wasn't dead.
"Kharl-sama…" Gently I lifted him from where he lay, turned, and carried him down the street.
People stared as I passed, Kharl-sama cradled in my arms. Let them stare, let them wonder, as long as he was okay.
I had to kick the door open to get inside. More plaster rained down onto the floor as Ari watched me wide eyed as I wordlessly paced up the stairs.
There was a room open on the left side of the hall. Good.
It was one of the smaller ones, with a window overlooking the soon to be fairgrounds. Small, but definitely better than nothing.
Sighing with relief, I lay him down on the bed, pulling the sheets over him. There was a smile on my face all the while.
*
I could hear the floor creak as I tried my best to sep soundlessly towards where he lay in silent slumber. The moon was full, and it cast a silver glow across his beautiful, peaceful face. I felt my heart flutter as I stopped at his bedside, gazing down at him longingly.
"I love you so much…more than you can ever imagine," I found myself whispering as I brushed locks of gold from his face. "I don't know how to tell you…I love you, Garfakcy. I love you."
Slowly, without a second thought, I bent down and kissed him lightly.
He stirred as I drew away and opened his eyes.
"Kharl-sama?" He looked up at me, sitting up and yawning only slightly. It was so adorable. "What are you doing here?"
I took a step back and sighed. I couldn't keep it a secret forever.
"I came here to give you this…" I bent down and kissed him again, this time longer, harder, more passionately.
He seemed nervous, uncertain for a moment. I almost kicked myself for doing what I did. But then he wrapped his fragile arms around me, holding me, and all my fears were suddenly eased.
"I love you, Garfakcy…" I whispered. He looked up at me, trembling slightly and nodded.
"I love you, too, Kharl-sama…"
My heart fluttered. I reached out a hand to take him and hold him close.
I was so close…then everything became dark. I was falling…
Green eyes sparkled with fear and desperation as a small hand reached out for me. We were both falling. Falling apart, reaching for each other.
I opened my mouth to scream, but nothing came out.
No! No! Can't you see? I need him! He needs me…don't…don't take us apart…
Who I was speaking to, I wasn't sure. I was alone. Everything seemed so cold, so distant. I wandered the halls of my own home, but everything was so far away. So empty. For the first time the stone walls felt cold. I shivered.
I could feel my shoulders shaking with something like fear and laughter. Emptiness and madness closed in around me. I laughed.
"What's the point? What's the point anymore...?"
My shoulders shook with unsuppressed laughter. There was a sword in my hand. A sword…it seemed so inviting. Such cold, unforgiving steel…
I took the sword and plunged it into my heart. Red blood poured forth, dripping down my shirt, down the blade, onto the floor, collecting into puddles on the floor here and there.
And still I laughed. Why should I care? What was there to go on for? They had all taken him away. All of them, taken him from me.
I didn't care anymore…
*
I opened my eyes. Where was the blood? Was this the after life?
I sat up and looked around. Heaven looked a whole lot like an inn. I sighed and shook my head. I must have been dreaming.
"Kharl-sama!"
I looked around, searching for the person that spoke those all too familiar words. And there, there, just like I knew he would be, was Garfakcy, standing in the frame of the door. "It's a good thing you woke up. I was just about to leave…"
"Leave?" From the window I could see the sun setting low in the sky. "Why would you be leaving at sunset?"
He smiled and shook his head.
"There's a summer festival tonight, and for the next two nights as well. I was going to go meet someone there."
"I see…"
"You should come once you're feeling better, okay?"
"Sure, why not?" I muttered.
He didn't say anything, just grinned in response. And just like that, he was gone, the door closed behind him.
To be continued...
In the next chapter: THe first night of the festival, more Kharl talking to himself, and other stuff that you should read because I said so. I CONTROL YOU, NOW, VIERREZ! Oh, wait, hold on a second...-_-;
He was walking away. He had come back, and now he was leaving again. My legs shook, I couldn't follow after him. Instead, I felt my legs crumble from beneath me. Felt my body fall to the dusty earth.
He cast a quick glance back at me, his green eyes so beautiful before he once more disappeared.
He was gone. Gone again.
Something wet streamed down my cheek. Something bitter and salty. Tears. Heh, tears. I was crying again. I had become so weak without him.
I closed my eyes, begging them to put me to sleep once more, to let me dream something happy again.
The last thing I saw was dozens of pairs of human feet.
The footsteps drew closer, light and gracefully stepped. There was a creak. The last stair on the flight always creaked when someone walked over it.
Just details I pick up, nothing more.
The footsteps stopped for a moment a little whiles behind me, as if trying to fully take in the sight of who was sitting in the wooden chair in the middle of the room. Then suddenly, the light, graceful footsteps became loud and pounding stomps on the spotless floors.
My doing, as it always was.
"Where have you been ALL AFTERNOON?!" asked a very pissed voice.
I didn't answer right away, but first took a moment to look at the clock hanging on the wall. 2:00.
"WELL?! I was waiting for you!"
I sighed and stood up shakily, turning to the girl who was glaring at me angrily and tapping her left foot. Her blue eyes could have burned a hole through my body.
"I just went out for a little while, that's all, Mila."
"AND?!"
"And I met an old friend in the market. And we talked. And that's the entire truth." Mila sighed and shook her head. "I was hoping that we could take some time off tonight and go to the festival…" Then she gave me a quick hug and smiled. "But we CAN'T if you're out taking walks all day."
The summer festival, of course. The reason why this town was so crowded in the first place. Tonight was the first night of the festival.
I grinned and grabbed my broom out of the corner and gave her a quick kiss. "Okay, then."
Nodding, she turned and disappeared up the stairs again.
There was a heavy wooden 'CLONK' on the floor as the broom toppled to the floor and I collapsed into a chair. The floor was clean already – even I had to admit that. There really wasn't much else to do.
It wasn't like with Kharl-sama, when there was always something to do, someone to pick up after. That man could single-handedly outdo a tornado.
But, looking back, I didn't mind. I didn't mind at all…
"Kharl-sama…"
"ONIISAN!" The door was flung open, banging loudly against the wall and sending bits of plaster fluttering to the floor. I would have to clean that up later, otherwise people might complain.
In the doorway stood Ari, out of breath, eyes wide, halfway between excitement and shock. He scampered over to me and began to tug on my arm.
"Oniisan, oniisan, your friend's dead!"
Friend? Kharl-sama?!
"What do you mean?!" I asked, startled.
"He's lying in the middle of the street! He's not moving! There's a lot of people!"
He didn't have to pull me down the road this time. In fact, I found myself running down the street in less than a second.
Kharl-sama hurt…or sick…in trouble. I couldn't bear the thought. I had to be there with him…I had to help him!
My mind began to wander, the people passing me a blur. How many times had he needed me, called for me, and got no response? How many times did he fall ill without me there to help him?
I felt strangely sick, disoriented. But I didn't stop.
What Ari had deemed, 'lots of people' was actually about a dozen people grouped around Kharl-sama's limp form. I rushed over and knelt down by him.
He was still breathing. He wasn't dead.
"Kharl-sama…" Gently I lifted him from where he lay, turned, and carried him down the street.
People stared as I passed, Kharl-sama cradled in my arms. Let them stare, let them wonder, as long as he was okay.
I had to kick the door open to get inside. More plaster rained down onto the floor as Ari watched me wide eyed as I wordlessly paced up the stairs.
There was a room open on the left side of the hall. Good.
It was one of the smaller ones, with a window overlooking the soon to be fairgrounds. Small, but definitely better than nothing.
Sighing with relief, I lay him down on the bed, pulling the sheets over him. There was a smile on my face all the while.
I could hear the floor creak as I tried my best to sep soundlessly towards where he lay in silent slumber. The moon was full, and it cast a silver glow across his beautiful, peaceful face. I felt my heart flutter as I stopped at his bedside, gazing down at him longingly.
"I love you so much…more than you can ever imagine," I found myself whispering as I brushed locks of gold from his face. "I don't know how to tell you…I love you, Garfakcy. I love you."
Slowly, without a second thought, I bent down and kissed him lightly.
He stirred as I drew away and opened his eyes.
"Kharl-sama?" He looked up at me, sitting up and yawning only slightly. It was so adorable. "What are you doing here?"
I took a step back and sighed. I couldn't keep it a secret forever.
"I came here to give you this…" I bent down and kissed him again, this time longer, harder, more passionately.
He seemed nervous, uncertain for a moment. I almost kicked myself for doing what I did. But then he wrapped his fragile arms around me, holding me, and all my fears were suddenly eased.
"I love you, Garfakcy…" I whispered. He looked up at me, trembling slightly and nodded.
"I love you, too, Kharl-sama…"
My heart fluttered. I reached out a hand to take him and hold him close.
I was so close…then everything became dark. I was falling…
Green eyes sparkled with fear and desperation as a small hand reached out for me. We were both falling. Falling apart, reaching for each other.
I opened my mouth to scream, but nothing came out.
No! No! Can't you see? I need him! He needs me…don't…don't take us apart…
Who I was speaking to, I wasn't sure. I was alone. Everything seemed so cold, so distant. I wandered the halls of my own home, but everything was so far away. So empty. For the first time the stone walls felt cold. I shivered.
I could feel my shoulders shaking with something like fear and laughter. Emptiness and madness closed in around me. I laughed.
"What's the point? What's the point anymore...?"
My shoulders shook with unsuppressed laughter. There was a sword in my hand. A sword…it seemed so inviting. Such cold, unforgiving steel…
I took the sword and plunged it into my heart. Red blood poured forth, dripping down my shirt, down the blade, onto the floor, collecting into puddles on the floor here and there.
And still I laughed. Why should I care? What was there to go on for? They had all taken him away. All of them, taken him from me.
I didn't care anymore…
I opened my eyes. Where was the blood? Was this the after life?
I sat up and looked around. Heaven looked a whole lot like an inn. I sighed and shook my head. I must have been dreaming.
"Kharl-sama!"
I looked around, searching for the person that spoke those all too familiar words. And there, there, just like I knew he would be, was Garfakcy, standing in the frame of the door. "It's a good thing you woke up. I was just about to leave…"
"Leave?" From the window I could see the sun setting low in the sky. "Why would you be leaving at sunset?"
He smiled and shook his head.
"There's a summer festival tonight, and for the next two nights as well. I was going to go meet someone there."
"I see…"
"You should come once you're feeling better, okay?"
"Sure, why not?" I muttered.
He didn't say anything, just grinned in response. And just like that, he was gone, the door closed behind him.
To be continued...
In the next chapter: THe first night of the festival, more Kharl talking to himself, and other stuff that you should read because I said so. I CONTROL YOU, NOW, VIERREZ! Oh, wait, hold on a second...-_-;