Duty-Bound: Chapter 57
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It didn't matter that she was wet, or that her kimono was dirty because of the mud. She neither cowered in fear when the thunder clapped nor flinched when the lighting flashed. Her whole body was numb. She could not feel anything as she looked up at the dark sky. If she didn't know any better, she would have thought the world was crying for her. Soon, her vision blurred as she stood before her sister's shrine. She felt like a lost child. What did she do to deserve this? Had she been a bad girl before this life that Karma had finally caught up to her? Why? Why did it have to be like this? The rain washed her tears away as though they didn't allow her to cry, didn't want to see her tears.
All this time, she was only a pawn for their plans. They knew Aida would die, and she would come back to do what she was expected to do. Clutching the fabric of her kimono, she looked down at the wet ground. Tears of angst didn't stop as she chanted "why" over and over again. When she felt a presence beside her, she looked up through her wet bangs.
His crimson eyes held anger, but no pity. He was upset for her. As he settled down beside her, she threw her arms around him and clung onto him while crying. Flashes of her childhood appeared behind her closed lids, bringing more tears in her eyes. "I hate this place, Natsume. I really do…" Yet, I can't deny the fact that this place brought me to you…
He replied by tightening his hold on her. "I'll always be with you."
She remained in his arms until all of her energy seeped out under the rain.