A/N - …nothing to say…
Chapter Twenty-Four: "I love you…"
Right at your side, I'm standing there
I'm always waiting for you
But you don't return my advances
I've been disappointed so many times
~Watashi-tachi ni Naritakute
Takato woke up at home. What happened the night before was now a bleary daze to him. What happened after the death of Janyuu? He couldn't remember. "Okaa-san? Otou-san?" He walked downstairs. It was empty. Again. "Okaa-san… Why aren't you and Otou-san home yet?" His smile of hope vanished, and he sat down feeling as if no one cared about him. *Don't be silly, my sweet tamashii-chan, I love you.*
"Whatever." Takato snapped back. "Like anyone really cares about insignificant me."
*I'm sure someone does.* Inside, Aishuu was worrying. Takato had strayed off the path of kind caring and sweetness, and had become more harsh and unfeeling, similarly to how Aishuu was built. *It hurts me, Tamashii-chan, to see you changing like you are.*
"I'm sure." Takato said coldly. A bit of the child-like softness returned, in his soft spoken whisper of a voice. "Perhaps being tough will help me from getting hurt." In that moment, his eyes caught their old gleam, but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared. "I've always been a weakling, a little kid, now I'm growing up. Deal with it, Aishuu-sama."
Aishuu was stunned silent. Takato continued his rant. "You heard what Yamaki said. I know how mad it got you. But you were getting mad for me. Same with Lee-san. You got mad at his words for me. I'm weak, I know. But you don't need to protect me. I'm strong now."
*No.* Aishuu concentrated very hard. *I need a body. Right now, I need my own body…* He could feel himself becoming an illusion in front of Takato. He stared at his ghostly hands. *Is this what Yami and Akari are reduced to? Nothing but an illusion?* He fixed his gaze on Takato. *You are strong, yes. But you still need protection. You are still weak. But when you NEEDED protection, really needed it, you were a kind, caring, compassionate person. I do not want to see this jaded, angry person. I want the old one that needed me.*
Takato could feel his old weakness coming on as Aishuu spoke. He dropped to his knees with a gasp. Pain boiled up his limbs, building to a burning fire in his head. "But--" Aishuu bent down, and put a finger to Takato's lips.
Takato was tired, suddenly. *I want you. Even if you got stronger, if you became cold and unfeeling, if you forgot how to love, I would still love you.* Takato blinked, confused. *Who cares about this cold body? I don't. Who cares about my mission? I don't. All I care about is making sure you're safe.*
He suddenly bent down and kissed the boy, his ghostly lips feeling the cold ones of Takato. *Go to sleep now. You'll be fine.*