I opened an eye and realized it was already morning. Today, argh. Let's finish this soon.

Rolling out of bed and dressing up, I could see my girlfriend still sleeping, only wrapped in sheets, with one of her legs completely uncovered. I smiled, taken back by the memories of the night before. Such a heavy sleeper…better this way.

Better this way, otherwise I would throw everything away just to stay and make her mine once again. Not very rational.

From a gap on my window curtains I observed the Fire Clock being lit. It has officially started. Mu would let them go; so would Aldebaran once his stubbornness was overcame.

The third house is Saga's…although is empty I know he won't make it easy for them. That's it, if they make it through the third house I step in... By now I just need to keep an eye on it and be ready.

And I can't stay here any longer

I left an ice rose on the table and kissed Aurora's forehead before leaving and closing the door.

-Sorry, I hope you forgive me after that.- I repeated to myself while I locked the door and froze the doorknob. I knew her my whole life to be aware that she would try to stop if Hyoga and I had to fight.

Aurora was brilliant, but she still had a piece of humanity that wouldn't accept seeing two friends fighting until death if necessary, even if for us it actually had a deeper meaning than that. And I loved her for that. She is what makes me human and what makes me weak. Right now, if she dared to interfere, we could all be dead.

Aurora POV

Why am I hugging a pillow?

— Camus?— I asked but there was no response. Ah, today! —I rushed to the closest window and checked the fire clock. It has already started.

Clumsy getting dressed, I rushed to the door but could open it. I forced again. Nothing, except that it was extremely cold.. I bumped it. Nothing.

Peeking through the locker I realized that I was locked and frozen by the outside.

—You didn't believe me at all, right? Smartass… — I bit my lip. He was always a step forward than me.

What do I do now? – I sat next to the window, feeling anxious and slightly claustrophobic. I lost my parents, I lost Isaac, do I have to keep loving people and losing them? I know the risks...but love is selfish sometimes.

I noticed an ice rose on the table, along with a note.

" Cela ne cassera pas ou ne fondra pas aussi long temps que je vis, tout comme mon amour pour vous. / This one won't break or melt as longs as I live, just like my love for you

Forgive me"

With a lump in my throat, I silently cried until falling asleep, but quickly woke up when I heard a noise coming downstairs.

— Camus?- I shouted from the bedroom. I heard the ice on the doorknob break into pieces and then confirmed that was him indeed. I opened the door and rushed downstairs, where I saw him standing still on his armour.

I faced him, gasping, and slapped his face without thinking twice. He didn't move.

—I deserved that. Sorry. - he said, almost indifferently even with a red mark on his cheek. – But you would have been in my way.

— If you love me don't treat me like an obstacle.

Silence paired between us for a few heavy minutes that felt like hours. Neither of us wanted to fight but we also had absolutely no idea of how to proceed with such situation.

— Did you do it? – I dared to ask, breaking the awkward silence.

He sighed – He will be fine, someday.

I frowned, confused

— Someday?

— Í saved him, but couldn't do much. He's still haunted by his memories, he's a living danger to the world.

I got scared and stepped back, instinctively. – Did you kill him?

— Non. I froze him.

I can't believe in this shit.–Oh, alright! You didn't kill him, just froze him. Bloody genius, Camus! He's not food nor a school time capsule, you're not saving him, what the hell!

—I had no choice! - he raised his voice, probably the first time in my life I've seen such thing. – This was a fight, not a classroom. If he didn't die by my hands, his head would be probably another trophy hanging on Deathmask's wall.

I stopped crying, the penny dropped that he could be actually right but I refused to accept that it was the only way.

— His cosmos may protect him through years. I hope someday you stop hating me. — he turned his back walking away.

— I don't hate you. I want to but I can't. — I cried, holding his cape. — I just can't understand why things can't be another way.

He looked down and didn't face me, I was still grabbing his cape.

I realized my convictions wouldn't change, so wouldn't whatever he had to do that day. I just couldn't be on his way, at least by now. I had to get away from here — he wouldn't force me to do that, however being locked down wasn't a pleasant option either.

— I will let you do what you were born to do — I smiled, frustrated. Showing a bit of surprise and concern, he turned to face me, about to ask, but I put my index finger on his thin lips before he could say anything. — Don't worry. I'll come back soon as it's over.

— I would never ask you to leave — He murmured.

— I know. But I have to, for both of us.

He pulled me closer and gave me an intense kiss, the cold gold of the armour touching my pale skin. He hesitated to break the kiss but once we done it, he didn't look back.

— Mu!- he shouted and in a blink I was transported outside the 11th house.

— Are you alright? — Mu asked but I was quite dizzy with the quick change of scenarios after teleporting. — Kiki, stay with her.

— Are you sure you are alright, miss Aurora?

I nodded to the ginger boy beside me. Mu was a bit away, with a girl with purple hair that seemed injured next to him. Her cosmos is so peaceful.

The sudden new environment wasn't enough to distract me from the last moment I shared with my boyfriend. Something wasn't right and I could feel it.

That kiss, that bittersweet kiss tasted like a goodbye.

(Re uploading cause copy n paste let my file full of code errors :(. Again, if you like it LET ME KNOOOW, I know it's been a while but I won't give up, the end is comiiiing. Hope you all enjoy!

xx