4| As the Hungry Flames Flicker
Opening one eye and closing the other, in this case, it was meant to be the literal sense. A groggy feeling swept over Tsunami's head as she awakens from her sleep. She felt as though her entire body is aching and a feeling of sleepiness still present. Turning her head around, she looked at her surrounding. It was a well-furnished room decorated with drawn pictures. She slightly smiled when she realized that Nana had apparently brought her back to her room. Getting up from the bed, she wandered her way downstairs to where Nana was doing paperwork.
The rustling of the paper and the dense smell of ink brought her to a sense of curiosity. Rather than directly announcing her presence, Tsunami hushed her own breathing and tiptoed approaching from behind. Once arriving, she placed her chin on the thin shoulder frames and with eyes glued to the paper, she read 'Application for Extended School Leave.'
Her approach didn't surprise Nana as much as she thought. Instead, Nana turned around with a carefreely calling out. "Oh my, Tsu-chan! Good morning."
"Kaa-san, why are you applying for extended school leave?" Tsunami responded with a curious smile.
"I'm applying for an extended break on your behalf. You have just been released from the hospital, it will take a toll on your body if you don't rest properly."
"I can start school soon, I am fine. I have slept for far too long."
"Really? So you will be fine if you go to school the day after tomorrow?"
Tsunami nodded her head and gave her kaa-san a reassuring smile. School, huh? It's been a while. She wondered how it will be like, friends with little children or perhaps continuing to be a loner? Either way, the concept of being in a classroom intrigued her a bit. She did vow that she will live this life better, maybe this time she can be the one to initiate the start of a friendship?
Pushing the chair to the side, Tsunami sat in front of Nana. Since there was no longer any need to fill out paperwork in a request for extended leave, Nana began clearing up the scattered documents.
"Oh Tsu-chan, breakfast is already made. You could just reheat them and it will be fine. I will also be going out shortly to finish some business." Nana then took her hand and supported her head for a moment. Her voice containing a disappointed sigh. "Really, you could have rested more."
"Kaa-san, you worry too much. I am fine already. It's about time for me to get some exercise or else my muscles will turn soft."
Nana laughed contentedly before nodding. "If you say so." Taking hold of the loose papers, she went up the stairs and shortly after appeared once more with a fresh set of clothes. Tsunami stared at her kaa-san as she thought more about the female in front of her. Medium brunette hair with a rather innocent expression. Height not too tall but not short. Most importantly, her body appeared to be so fragile and petite that made her Kaa-san seemed weak. Tsunami inwardly sighed, in the future, she will have to protect her kaa-san. No matter what, she will not let this woman suffer.
"Kaa-san you are leaving now?"
"Yeah, I will be back soon. Make sure to eat breakfast and if you are bored, go play games or watch a cartoon."
Tsunami frowned at the available choices to waste time but didn't comment on those options. As Nana grabbed her bag sitting on the sofa, she only took a few steps before she was already out of the house. The once warmth had already disappeared leaving the empty house to Tsunami. She sat in the living room staring at the deafening silence. The only thing that actually created sound in this large house was her kaa-san's voice and now it is gone. While the times they spent together was temporary, it seemed as though she had already grown dependent on her. Inhaling a deep breath of air, Tsunami picked her made breakfast lying on the countertop of the large table. The meal might not be extravagant like the ones she ate in her previous life but it tasted far better than anything she has had solely because it was made with love and not out of duty.
"It's no wonder kaa-san can attract such a fine man like tou-san." Tsunami chuckled childishly at her own remarks. Truly, no one can resist such charms once you get caught in it.
It had been nothing for her to sit in the empty house had it been in the past, but now it is different. Sitting in the usual house without someone made her a bit uncomfortable so she decided to take the initiative to head outside. Her time in this new world had only been a few days and therefore limited her view to the new surrounding. As such, where could she find a better chance to explore? Tsunami went up to her room, grabbed a tiny bag small enough to hold her necessities. She didn't know why but something was telling her that it would rain and that she shouldn't go out. Despite the pronounced warning that her guts told her, she merely stuffed a yellow umbrella into her bag and left.
-xxx-
The cloud had soon lost it's pure blue color and Tsunami knew then that she better hurry home. She didn't why but she knew instinctively that something is special today. Not the good kind but a bad life-changing one. She had already explored almost every part she could get to in her neighborhood and with prolonged time, the increasing bad feeling quickly approached. Taking a step out of the store, she skipped towards a less crowded area and hurried home. After a turn from the corner, several pink strands of hair suddenly flew in front of her. She dodged over to the side allowing the incoming young girl to pass. Incidentally, their pair of eyes locking onto each other. A beautiful amber matched against a pretty dull black.
They shared a brief moment of contact. One second in which it was so short but evoked more emotions from Tsunami than she could have ever felt. It is like those sort of sick fascination, a perverted disgust enveloped her body. Her emotions felt messed up just by being near the pinkette. Unconsciously, her amber eyes began clouding with black haze.
Tsunami quickly turned over to a corner where she slumped herself against the wall. Her's head feeling faint and her only support had been her rationality. A soft whisper gently graces her mind so straightforwardly that it shocked. It's her, the one who made the original Tsunami die. But Tsunami didn't need the Vongola blood to tell her because her body felt intense with joy just by her proximity.
"Is...this some...sort of sick masochistic..shit?"
Clutching her heart painfully, she suddenly sensed an incoming presence running to her. Even without her hyper intuition, the seething hatred from the approaching figure left her in wonders. It captured Tsunami and violently thrashed her against the wall. Only then by the pause in motion was Tsunami able to grasp the young girl's face.
The young girl, holding Tsunami captive had very prominent raven eyes and her hold drove Tsunami to madness. All her reasoning were drained out of her, her hearing became selective to the rampant stamping of her blood running wild. She is ecstatic, delighted, and even obsessed with the running shivers crawling on her body. Just the mere touch from the young stranger drove her insane.
"You bitch, got me suspended and you dare to waltz in my face?" Her tone was nasty and filled with anger, perfect to what Tsunami secretly desired.
Tsunami gave the young girl a condescending smirk. This action further irritated the girl as she grabs hold of Tsunami and once more ram her to the brick wall.
"You little shit sure changed a lot since I have last seen you, eh?"
The silence enveloped the two were soon interrupted by the warming kisses of the rain. The whole surrounding gradually turning wet as one is still glaring with much bitter hatred and the other with shocking pleasure.
"Are you the one who pushed me?" Alas, Tsunami finally opened her mouth to speak. Her lips still in the rising position as her question was asked so lightheartedly.
"You really have damaged your brain. Why don't I show you the incident one more time to remind you?"
Pitter patter, the slow drops of rain gradually fell even heavier soaking the two bodies. The element rain should've been calming effects, but it burned Tsunami like fire. Something in her was telling her to 'take it' and she desperately wants to do so. By that point, the blazing black completely enshrouded her pretty eyes to a menacing gaze. The pinkette still unaware of the danger that will befall merely continued to strangle Tsunami. To her, Tsunami will forever be a thorn in her eyes. This is all her anger, hate, disgust and above all jealousy. She envied her beauty. Those beautiful orange eyes that contain such sincere emotions. Those pretty lips painted with the color of a rose and naturally pale ivory skin. She envied her gentle nature that never fought with anyone even if her beloved things are taken, her loving mother, who always come to pick her up with a charming smile across her face and would ask upon her day. Likewise, she shared her disgust for such a timid weakling that would run with horrid fear when she is in view. The process would become quite laughable later on when she trample upon her pretty face. The pinkette had always liked to trample on stuff more prettier than her, more useless than her, and those with much better lives than her. Every time she goes back to that disgusting home with a row of males waiting to serve her mom, she feels like puking. Her mother as disillusioned thought the world loved her but only the daughter understood that the males were just looking for money and a free prostitute.
As the pink haired girl thought of this, a heavy shade of ebony gathered around her with Tsunami smiling of hunger. After mumbling some incoherent words, Flames of the Night covered her hand and it summoned the girl's own dying will flames. The girl watched with terror and screamed with horror. She felt as though her own life force were being concentrated to the top of her head. The threatening look from Tsunami resembled that of a grim reaper. For once, she learned to be scared. For once, her legs trembled.
Tsunami commanded her arms to the girl's forehead, gently tapped by the skin and the concentration of black dying will flame entered her Flames of the Night. All of the negative emotions flowed through her and she welcomed it gladly. The dying will flames were very pure, concentrated and above all delicious. The rich flow of hatred and jealousy turned her crazy. Subconsciously, she started absorbing more of the will and the pinkette although struggling couldn't release herself from the spider's web. She wrung in pain as her heart began to palpitate with speed, eventually her eyes losing light.
"Little girl."
A familiar voice called out to her, she was unsure where it was from but her flames gradually were reclaimed back to a pale orange and her eyes to its former light. The suddenly change set off a reversal effect so quick that it blasted the girl instead. When a loud crash was heard, Tsunami blinked for a moment before staring at the scene before her. A pretty ragged doll scrawled at several inches from her and although her eyes remained closed, she stayed still with shallow breathing.
Tsunami carefully approached the fallen girl. Her heart finally beating in its regularity unlike before. It was as though the young girl had lost all her appeal to her. Her memories seemed a bit fuzzy but she vaguely could remember flames coming out of her hand. Not one but two sets of colored flames. Her eyebrows knotted with seriousness as she bent to feel the carotid artery. Three sets of pumping vibrations answered back before she stood back up to scrutinize the situation.
Tsunami coldly scanned the girl before turning away. Being a benevolent person is not on her agenda. She is no saint in her past life and this life won't make a difference. The damage had been done, if she called for help won't she be ending herself right here and there? Picking up the fallen bag, she tightly dug her nails into her flesh. Her original warm skin slowly giving way to the cold as each droplet trickle further.
It didn't matter to her by then where she needed to go. She walked, head slumped and allowed her legs to carry wherever they desire. Her destination ended up being in front of the Sawada house and it was only due to the strong muscle memory which the body remembered.
Tsunami opened the gates, ransacked her bag for the key but Nana who was faster had already pushed the door open for her entry.
She stood in her home attire, white collared shirt with nude colored skinny jeans. Her hair carefully framed her face as she welcomed with a saddened relief. "Welcome back, Tsu-chan."
Tsunami lifted her haggard eyes and with lips trembling for a moment, she cleaned it off with a smile. Her crescent eyes glowed brightly matching the tune that her enchanting rosy lips played. "Kaa-san! I didn't bring my umbrella so now I am all wet. It's the bad rain's fault!"
Nana laughed coyly at Tsunami's playful remark but her next action surprised Tsunami. With great force, Nana pulled Tsunami into a tight embrace. The grip wasn't soft, it was one of those tight ones where it actually hurt. However, all is justified as Nana had been worried about her missing daughter the moment she came back home to the eerie silence. Her Tsu-chan had already been gone for a while and she can't allow for that to repeat. Every time she thought back to that moment her heart would clench tightly in suffocation. Nana didn't bother with her child's strange behavior or by how she could've seen a small yellow dangling out of the bag. She will trust her child and she will wait for the moment her child is willing to enclose with her. As long as her Tsu-chan is living healthily and as long as she is happy. Even if she could feel her own skin being penetrated by a striking wetness it didn't bother her. At that moment, that once petite frame wasn't so petite anymore. It was as large as the sky, and it belonged to Tsunami only.
Gently, Nana cooed Tsunami with her sweetest voice. Every now and then, she would pat Tsunami on her back reminding herself of her own daughter's the incoming vibrations from the pumping blood. "Go and take a warm bath, outside must have been cold."
"Yes, kaa-san."
The pair parted shortly after where Tsunami ran up to her room with her complexions much better. She tore off her clothes, replaced it with a large white shirt and jumped straight to her bed for warmth. Not minding her soggy hair nor the prune skin for being in the rain too long, the next second her lids gradually gave away to darkness.
-xxx-
In a bright room with floors tiled with two basic colors, a sound of jazzy hum echoed. Light taps of heels against the floor resounded and a dark shadow danced in triumph. He turned from the corner did a little shake and then turned around and did a little twirl.
As if life couldn't be any better for him ever since he had chosen that girl. After hearing a small click by the black walls, he twirled his way to the door allowing the non-existent wind to push back his black feather boa.
"Ahh...my host, I have been waiting for a while." His voice was exceptionally thick of an accent. His face marked with a black tear-shaped tattoo.
Coming from the other side was none other than his host who bore the purest honey hair and orange eyes flickering with tiredness. The man bowed so politely fitting to that of a medieval gentleman and laid a soft kiss upon her pale ivory hands. His face clearly excited and almost a tad too eager to discuss his meal from before.
Tsunami didn't flinch from his actions but neither did she bother to retract her cautious look. It wasn't even a while ago when she appeared in the space and today she is here again. Except for this time, the space seemed to be twisted with such strangeness from the odd decorations. She looked at the male before her, eyebrows turning wrinkled. "You are..?"
"Ah yes! It is unbefitting of a man to not introduce himself when seeing a lady." He took on an elegant stance and humbled himself before her. His violet orbs shimmering with joy. "I am what you call a wandering ghost but I am also known as the Flame of Night. Unlike other dying will flames, I am quite special. In fact, my entire identity is special. I fester from powerful negative emotions and that is how my master an ex-Arcobaleno created me."
The man who was so self-absorbed in his speech suddenly turned to stare at his host. He stared at her pretty amber eyes, those small lips waiting to be plucked and that oddly enchanting hair color. With both hands shooting out, he rubbed his face against hers. "Oh, what a beautiful creature! Your golden hair looked like those dashing horse manes and that pretty amber like a rotten orange!"
Tsunami growing irritated from his constant rubbing attempted to slap him away only to land in the air. The man unknown when had suddenly appeared from the back and proudly taunted his tall figure. He continued with the same narcissistic tone, "Dying will flames represent their creator likewise, sinister things have their eerie way to lose control. I crave freedom and more importantly delicious meals after a long period of wandering in the haze. Eventually gaining a hold of my own conscious due to the intense ire from my master, I parted a bit of my soul and found you lovely bird dying in such an ecstatic way. You held immense potential, your splendid seedling of hatred made me shiver with ecstasy. Oh..."
Tsunami flinched away in disgust. The man in front of her was no different to that of a pervert. Sleek ink hair combined behind his head, his long black cape donning of furs and a black feather boa followed his every perverted spinning twist. He had a dreamy face but his personality ruined everything. His self-introduction was straightforward and seemed to be full of blatant lies skipping with almost no chronological order. With no proof to back up anything, he merely entertained her with his amusing story, not in a word or two but a full paragraph. In fact, none of those definitions even exist in any logical sense or terms.
"Enough, I have no need for your full history. Why am I here?" Tsunami having given up sighed. She looked at the surrounding that was decorated with too much of an odd taste. Besides the two basic black and white, there was also a single kotatsu placed atop with a set of beautiful China. Near the rear corner was a red Chinese lantern marked with the character will burning in a ravishing black light. As if that was not odd enough, a king-sized Italian bed was placed in the middle marking its territory. The room was mashed with both Western and Eastern types of furniture, it was exceptionally disorganized.
"Have that pesky little soul not tell you about it? Ahh..that pesky soul indeed. If it wasn't for him, I could've devoured the remaining dying will flame. I could've consumed that girl's every last bit of hatred and jealousy. I could've helped to end her disgraceful life."
Tsunami scrunched her brow not comprehending a single word. It's the dying will flames again. Feeling frustrated, she demanded a reply. "What is this dying will flames? Pesky soul? Arcobaleno?" She looked at the man before her. He invaded her eyesight and looked at how rather interesting his red lantern burning black was. Tsunami then stopped, inhaled a breath of air and continued with a smirk. "Well Mr. Flame of the Night, a true gentleman would care to explain to his lady."
Perhaps the words shook him that he coughed twice before walking over to his kotatsu. Gently tapping his fingers, he signaled for Tsunami to follow along before speaking.
"Dying will flames, they are something refined through one's own life-force. There are seven major types falling under the category of Flames of the Sky and seven other types not common, falling under the Flames of the Earth. That pesky soul lying within you is Sky, the harmony to the guardian six flames namely, storm, rain, thunder, mist, cloud, and sun. The other category, Earth is the equivalent to the sky as its guardians are.."
The man's eyes wandered to the corner of the shelf where his senbei are located. He paused for a moment and shouted. "Hey, host! Get me that senbei!"
Tsunami rolled her eyes, got up and grabbed his senbei. It turns out he is not only having mental issues but also very distracted. What an abnormal chatterbox. She roughly threw it in his face but he managed to catch the flying object before he continued his explanation as the wrappers crinkled being the background music.
"One must have some tasty snacks before getting ready for a long conversation."
Tsunami inwardly thought he is possibly the most interesting one she has ever seen. Does he have a multi-personality disorder or one body with several faces?
"Go on."
"Where was I again? Oh right, the guardians of Earth are Glacier, desert, forest, mountain, swamp and...and... whatever. Those are the types of categorized flames but there also exist special flames and I am the best one! Okay, let's talk about me. But to talk about me, we need my master. He is the strongest Arcobaleno and also known as the Arcobaleno of Vindice. Arcobaleno are like babies that have the strength of a titan. Umm...they don't drink milk though. Uhh...I vaguely remembered that they are cursed."
Tsunami watched the male's every action and found herself deeply amused. He would scrunch his brows with frustration when he doesn't know and would talk as if he is a wise saint when he knows with confidence. After a moment of humming in thought, the inked hair man burst out in annoyance. "Who cares about them! I don't need them to explain myself!"
"So you don't know about them?"
"That is not true. I know but it seems like I have been too occupied trying to free myself that I never paid attention to these small details."
Tsunami immediately covered her mouth with an arching back desperately suppressing her laughter. So it seems like he really doesn't know much yet he talks as if he is the king. After recovering herself, she puts back her poker face and continues to obediently listen.
"Anyways, long story short, your own black flames resonated with me so I stayed within you. I am just merely adding a boost to your strength and power. You are a pretty rare individual, not a single person I have known had possessed two types of flames before."
"Two types of flames?"
"The great flames of mine and that pesky soul's flames."
Tsunami widens her eyes intaking the sudden throw of information. "You mean to say I possess the sky flames and the flames of the night?"
"It's odd and weird. If Verde knows, he might dissect you. No, if the world knows, they will chase after you." Then he proceeds to issue a slicing neck movement revealing those crescent watery eyes. He is twisted by nature. Born of negative feelings, how can he not enjoy such amusing events? Just thinking about how his owner will be dissected gives him pleasing shivers.
"How? Why do I possess two?"
The man looked at her, eyes becoming even more perverted. He laughed, a sound that's not pleasing to the ears. "Didn't I say that dying will flame are molded after one's life-force? Maybe it's your weird soul that produced two separate flames. And your body, it has hosted two freaking souls. Maybe it's your freak of a body. I mean the both of us is one of the few wonders of the world. Including that sappy ghost who clings to the Vongola heritage even after death." He shuddered just by thinking of Giotto but his words left Tsunami in much confusion then he started.
Two flames, one black and one orange. She didn't understand. Everything seemed to be too sudden for her. Starting from today, her vision suddenly turning blurry black and her attacking that girl. Wait...during that moment, her body felt controlled by something!
Tsunami flashed her glare towards the carefree male. She looked at him threateningly and he responded with glee. "Oh my, looks like you remembered what happened today."
"Yes, and I am not pleased. Why did I feel that way towards her? I am akin to that of a hungry irrational beast and you are the ringleader behind it."
"Kakaka...correct but also wrong." He closed his eyes to savor that taste once more. It was simply magnificently brewed. Those extreme emotions simply reminded him of his master's rich ire of hatred when he was ripped of his flames from his old Pacifier. Everything at that moment seemed so happy, so cute, and so delicious.
"We live by a parasitic contract. You provide me food and in return, I won't take your deathperation flames but rather let you feed off my energy. I just need delicious tasting darkness. Ones that are so rich and sick. Ain't that a nice deal? By feeding me, I am eating away their life-force. The stronger their hatred, anger, and jealousy, the more delicious my meal becomes. Ooh, and revenge is a nice one. The stronger their resolve, the more purity is injected into their flames." He opened his glaring eyes bleeding black. His aura ejecting fear into Tsunami. It reminded her of him, her killer. She tightened her fist and her eyes boiled the amber to pitch black.
The man nodded as he gleamed at the delightful meal before him. Yes, yes, revenge is sweet but the aftermath is sweeter because those avengers would always sell their soul to the devil. He silently fueled the fire more by adding, "You can practically kill without anyone noticing. Like those silent assassins who kill without a sound. Taking away their life-force is like robbing them of their will and power to live. They then regress to a simple vegetable state. Ain't that delightful? The blank canvas on their glassy orbs makes me so thrilled!"
Repulsive. Sickening. A vile thing. He is disgusting, foul, but he is not a human. He is just a life created by a blob of negative emotions. A fire burning in hell. She couldn't help but laugh. Laugh at him, at herself, at his words. "Yes, killing people is fun. I have many I want to kill unlike the few that I want to protect. But don't get me wrong..." Tsunami coldly reflected the man before her. The air around them churning the ebony mists as flickers of dark flames enshrouded their body. But within the mess, a deep glow of orange vibrated with flair. A deep symbol for the other part of her and the color of her pretty eyes. It flashed with power, gentle rage, and pride. It merged with the black flames that its host shares along with it and became a fascinating kind of fire. A destructive bronze with both flame properties. She will change history in the mafia world with that type of outlook.
"I don't mind to get my hands dirty as long as it is for own selfishness. That, however, doesn't mean I am willing to be dirty for a third party."
Her voice truly is beautiful. Despite her threat, she sounded no different from that of a canary bird chirping so sweetly into his ears. Her hair like sunshine hanging by her face. Nothing matched the horrific dangers that her body suggests it to be. Just with the body of seven years matured, her allure is like that of a femme fatale. Don't humans value the pretty and praise the strong? He sighs for her unpromising future shall she be involved with the mafia world.
"My host, you are too terrifying indeed." But even so, you are not a match for me, a purebred of sinisterly and famed for foulness. Oh yes, the contract will proceed whether you like it or not. The male took one of his fingers and commanded the black flames to far over. Those enshrouding darkness suddenly turned violent and went against Tsunami instead. Before they enveloped her into the dark, his last words were forever etched in her heart.
"You will learn to accept my cravings because I am powerful."
This might have been a hard chapter to write due to it being essentially important. A lot of details are revealed in regards to how the plot will develop and things might turn dark for the good or for the better. I will look forward to the chapter when everyone discovers that she has dual flames because she will be hiding it.
Thank you to xirons20 and Stephanie Clara for the great reviews particularly, Stephanie Clara. I enjoyed reading it and it helped to speed up my next release.
I already have all the dots but I need to draw the lines. Once I can connect them then everything will be good. Until the next chapter, if you have love please share~
