I basked in the moonlight, trying to succumb to sleep...
Since that wasn't happening any time soon due to the running thoughts in my head about this evening's events, I kept my eyes glued to my canopy...
'Did I make good choices? I can't tell despite everyone looking somewhat satisfied.'
A light breeze ghosted over me...which confused me because I fixed the doors leading to my balcony earlier...
"Second guessing yourself?"
I sat up from my bed, meeting eyes with forever-looking mischievous ones...
"Aunt Kimiko...?"
She giggled, "Yes, I'm really here~. It's not mind games, dear~."
"Why are you here?" I asked with a tilt of my head to the right.
"You found him...you found our clan's destroyer...yet you spare him? Where did you find mercy in your heart in such short time?" she asked, appalled, and her eyes displayed that.
"I..It shouldn't take a lot of time..to figure out a person must make peace with the demons that have scarred them."
"Give us the boy, Miya," Junjie spoke...he was standing to my right.
"I refuse."
Aunt Kimiko glowered, "If I can't make you, then I'll-"
"Do nothing, you'll do nothing," I heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Grandmother...?"
She stepped from behind her, "Yes, child, it is I." She looked between Aunt Kimiko and Junjie, "I know you, Junjie, have bad blood with Karlheinz, and it makes sense for you to follow up Kimiko with her plan on taking this Kino and killing him, but..." she looked to her daughter-in-law, "I never expected you to think of such a thing. What's your motive?"
"Two, Grams. If it weren't for that boy attacking our clan, separating you from Luci, she wouldn't have met Giesbach and she wouldn't have been raped, then imprisoned. If it weren't for that boy doing what he did, she..." Aunt Kimiko looked at me with sadness and disgust, "She wouldn't have gotten Luci in a loveless relationship with Karlheiz! Luci wouldn't have to suffer by two out of three of the Sakamaki wives verbal torment! Luci wouldn't have gotten killed!"
"Enough, Kimiko."
Her pupils...they engulfed her irises...
"Why kill one monster? To prevent more misfortune, when both should die!"
"Kimiko! Don't!" Grandmother yelled.
Before I knew it, I was grabbed by the throat and I abruptly brought within a...field?
"Look at her."
She angled my neck to look down..at my Mother's coffin... It was open...
"Because of you, she ended up like this."
The blood subtly dripped from her fingertips...
"Because of your mere existence, you disturb order in both the mortal world..."
The scenery changed to Fuko, Kei, Kai, and Hiroshi in the library.
"And immortal world..."
A scenery of my brothers and cousins appeared next to the one before us.
"What do you offer to both worlds, Miyami? Or should I call you Amaya? Maybe Eve? Sacrificial Bride? Queen of the Underworld?!"
Next thing I see is boiling lava, active geysers, hellfire and brimstone.
"Luci went down in blood! You'll go down in flames! And Kino, I'll make sure to strap him to a cross, make him bleed, engulf him in flames, and he better pray to God that He has mercy on him!"
One by one, her fingers lifted off my neck...
She grinned, "You will, too."
Finally finding reason to live, I grabbed her by her neck and pressed my feet into her stomach, then flipped her over me, making her last two fingers let go of my neck.
We plummeted towards the center.
"AS IF I ASKED TO BE BORN! AS IF I ASKED TO BE BORN AS WHAT I AM! AS IF I ASKED TO BE GIVEN THIS WAY OF LIFE!"
I let her go and kicked her away from me as she pulled out a knife to attack.
"I KNOW I'M AN ABOMINATION BEFORE GOD'S EYES! TAKING POSITION AS QUEEN OF THE UNDERWORLD?! I'M CONSIDERED BAT $#:t CRAZY IN THE MORTAL WORLD! BUT THE IMMORTAL WORLD, FOREIGN REIGN."
"IF YOU KNOW BOTH HAVE NEGATIVE EFFECTS, THEN WHY DON'T YOU JUST DIE?! LIVING IS NOT AN OPTION! SOMEONE COULD EASILY ONE-UP YOU AND STEAL YOUR POWER!"
Using the fire around us, I thrust strings of fire at her to get some distance between us. I glared at her...
"I don't recall God giving me any kind of precognition or answer of doing that. If He does, then I'll know when I'm dragged to Hell. *Smile* It's something I've been accustomed to for 16 years anyway."
Glancing to my arms, I saw something being engraved in them and the fire began to burn my arms.
Aunt Kimiko started screaming because her body began to burn up and scorch.
I realized because she's in agony, she's unable to alter this illusion, and that this illusion is a reality..meaning...we would-
The burning on my arm increased more than the rest of my body so I looked back at the now solid black engraving, blood seeping through the cuts...
Analyzing the foreign language, I looked back down, seeing us getting closer to the lava. I gritted my teeth, hoping this would actually work...
"Sună la unul și numai unul. Lucille Luminitsa Sakamaki, o sun pe ea și numai pe ea."
("Call out to one and only one. Lucille Luminitsa Sakamaki, I call out to her and only her.")
A flash of seemingly, lightning struck down towards us, the last thing I saw...
~Small Time Skip~ -Esmerelda's P.O.V-
"Mama... Mama. Mama!"
I stirred at the voice calling out to me, blinking my eyes as much as I could to clear my vision.
"Mama, you okay?"
"Kimi..ko?"
"..."
I blinked my eyes rapidly to get me vision back in focus. The woman above me sounded like Kimiko, but I couldn't tell by her figure...
"No, Mama..." she said, pressing my right hand against her left cheek. "It's me..."
That's when my vision cleared up.
~Tiny Time Skip~ -Miyami's P.O.V-
I sat there...uncomfortably.
This was so much to process...
"I-I..I'm sorry," Aunt Kimiko sobbed out. "I'm s-so sorry..I-I could've hurt you...You woulda died..died because I-I couldn't..con-trol..myself.."
My stomach kept doing somersaults...
"You...are forgiven," Grandmother forgave her.
I thought I had gone crazy...
"Don't you think you owe an apology to Sis as well?" Ayato asked with a sharp tone.
Maybe I have...?
Aunt Kimiko stared at me, seeming dubious in doing so... "I..I'm sorry..to you as well, Miyami. My emotions..got the best of me..."
This is reality, right?
"Thank you for apologizing to her."
Or is this...just a story?
"Miyami?"
Maybe...I am writing this right now...
"Big Sis, are you alright?"
I'm making this up as I go, aren't I...
"She's in a state of shock."
Stop torturing yourself.
"It's understandable why she is overwhelmed."
You want this to happen, but you know it never will!
"Miya-chan...?"
Not real, not real, not real.
"It's not all in your head, Miyami," she spoke loud and clear. She caressed the top of my head with one of her hands. "This isn't a story. This is reality. I am real."
I could feel my pupils return to normal size...it's as if I was slipping away...Limbo? No...death.
Meeting the gaze of my Mother's, not only did her lips smile, but her eyes as well.
"You had that look on your face again...the one that says "I feel like giving up", but..you'd always deny it." She embraced me in a warm hug, "Why would you do that when I just came back? I would go into a state of depression if I lost you," she said with a sad smile.
When I blinked, I felt some liquid-like piece slide down my cheeks..and they just kept sliding...
"Can't have you revealing that to your brothers now. You've been so strong," she cooed gently.
"M...Mama..."
She stiffened, leaning her head back a little to stare into my eyes, "...you've..rarely called me that unless..."
I let out a choked chuckle, "Th-There's..there's a fine line between...being a Mother and a Mama." I wrapped my arms around her, closing my eyes as I laid my head on her left shoulder, "When being watched by strangers and "comrades" your whole life...false face must hide what the true heart wants..."
She hummed in..what I think is approval, "You've finally understood Shakespeare, huh..."
"Yeah," I sniffed, then finally decided to lift my head from her shoulder. "Mind explaining how you got here?"
"It's..." she continued the s, glancing around, "...complicated. Why not just be happy at the fact that I'm here?"
I nodded, "Mm, you're right," I said, letting go of her. "Your hair has grown longer.." I noticed.
"And yours has...stayed the same in style since 16. What's with that?"
"I..I don't..." I formed a pout on my lips, "...really like my hair."
She dramatized a gasp, "No..."
"Yeah," I said a little shyly, "Color's weird. Why do you think I dyed it in high school...?"
"This is too cute," I heard Laito mumble.
"I know I am," she responded as she turned to look at Laito with a arrogant smile.
Suddenly, her body stiffened, making me tilt my head in confusion. I tilted my head to the right a little...coming into contact with shocked golden ones...
"Luci-"
A pillow came into contact with his face...one that I threw at him.
I grabbed her by her shoulders and held her close, backing up as much as I could on my bed with her weight leaning on me..which wasn't much...
'She must've lost quite some weight over time...just where was she all these years?'
"I just got her back," I spoke with venom in my tone...My eyes were most likely glowing red. "I am not letting you take her away from me."
"Calm down, Miyami."
Looking to Grandmother, she casually walked over to Father, stopping directly in front of him. She...bowed her head...?
"I must thank you for protecting my daughter and granddaughter to the best of your ability," she spoke softly.
An abrupt loud smack sounded throughout my room.
"Mama!" Mother yelled at her.
"And I must smack your a$$ because my daughter's death was on your hands, and you put my granddaughter through a living hell."
He held his right cheek, giving her a smile. "Still as hyper as ever despite your age, I see," he replied in an amused tone.
"Can I get a slap in, too?" Aunt Kimiko asked.
"Same here...probably a stab in the heart, too," Junjie spoke, poking his head from around her, glaring at Father.
"Enough of that, you two," Mother spoke, easily slipping out of my grasp when I least expected it. She made her approach towards him, "Have you done what I requested?"
"Yes."
She looked back at me, then narrowed her eyes. "While I..slumbered, I could sense something was off with your body with tiny connections since my death. Mind telling me, Miyami?"
"I...I have no idea what you're talking about," I said..lying a little.
"Do not play coy with me," she said, smiling a little. "You have the faint scent of a human on you..."
I stared at her harshly, she chuckled in response...
"Okay, okay, tell me all about it later. But tell me, Miyami, what do you think of humans?"
"I think they're...meek, weak, simple beings, but have the ability to do almost anything. God giving them free will is enough as is, if they were to have our kind of power, they'd take advantage and be more greedy."
"Your thoughts on God?" she pushed further gently.
"...I am unsure of my thoughts on God if He doesn't respond to me. But..I guess I'm doing something right if-!" I looked up at her, grimacing. "To think I'd be played for a fool!"
Teleporting directly in front of her, I grabbed her by her neck and slammed her down to the floor.
"Miyami! What do you think you're doing?!" Grandmother yelled, trying to pull me off of her.
"Dead don't come back to life! That's crossing into God's territory! She's a fake! A homonculus! Hey, you! Who is your creator?!"
She grinned, laughing. ''Her body is the perfect vessel. I feel much stronger compared to what I used to be."
"...Cordelia."
"Mother!" Kanato yelled, exasperated.
"In the flesh, little brat."
*Silence*
I let go of her neck, stepping away slowly.
"We're still playing those games..right?" I asked in a weakened tone, covering my face with my bangs.
"What games?" she questioned.
"You're right..it is flesh... It is just a body now."
She took a cautious step back, I noticed Kanato step in front of her. "Miyami, whatever you do, don't hurt her!"
I lifted my head, glaring at him with my one revealed eye. "Or what?"
"..."
"He may not do anything, but I will," Reiji backed him up.
"Agreed, you need to calm down, Miyami," Shu spoke.
"You're gonna hurt me?" I asked with a breaking tone, tilting my head. "I was the one who took care of you. I was the one that had your back when no one else in this damn room did! I WAS THE ONE WHO TOLD YOU THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR WHORE OF A MOTHER!"
"Miyami!" Grandmother yelled at me.
"NO!" Ayato yelled, "Let her keep going! This needs to be said! If physical pain won't hurt her, let's have it all out in this room tonight!"
"Studying! Impressing! Cooking! Baking! Playing! Taking care of six brothers that aren't even mine! Sure, there were maids and butlers to do that, but I know what my brothers liked! Now, I don't even know them anymore! I could've easily abandoned all of you!...But no, I didn't. I sacrificed sleepless nights, I sacrificed some of my freedom, I sacrificed my happiness! And for what?!" I gritted my teeth, and tear began to spill down my cheeks, "All I got out of it was having my Mom hung before my eyes in cold blood! Taking drugs! Drinking alcohol! Not even a thank you from the six I took care of so earnestly!"
"Miya-" I cut Laito off.
"SHUT UP, LET ME SPEAK!" I looked at each of them in the face, "But you know what I did?! You know what I did that Cordelia, Beatrice, nor Miss Christa would never do?! Even my own Mother! I got back up on my a$$ and told myself I'm gonna make it, damn it! I refuse to let people trample over me! I-I refuse to become a wife hoeing herself out to get so-me man's attention-who doesn't even pay attention to nor love her! I refuse to become a Mother..l-like those 3..a-and not take c-care! O-f my child! When I be-came..a-a...ma-mama one day..."
I sunk to my knees, letting out my tears, sniffles, and strained sobs in front of everyone...feeling rather relieved more than vulnerable.
Seemingly, it may have sounded like I was yelling at everybody in this room...no.
It was my brothers, that woman, and Father.
"Sister-"
Harsh enough to leave a bruise, I slapped Subaru's hand away. "Don't. Don't..touch me..."
All reasoning came back to me when I noticed the expression on his face...
Never have I seen Subaru cry...nor have I seen him look so broken before.
He got on his knees, and while I was off-guard, embraced me in his arms. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you..." he repeated in mumbles.
"Karl!" Cordelia shouted, turning to him. "You're just going to let her talk to us like that?! You promised me you would get rid of her! Take care of me! And not love another ever again! She is a threat to us-"
"Oh? Did I say that to you? I was actually talking to the body you're in."
She flinched, then grunted..as if she was in pain. "Wh-What are you talking about?"
"I wrote a hidden spell in Miyami's arm when she was younger. When the time was right and she was in deep despair, Lucille would be brought back to life...you just happen to be what's left of a wondering soul and attached to her body." He smiled as a black smoke left out of her mouth, "Honestly, what she said was all true. You were young and dumb, and got taken advantage of. When I met Lucille, I knew she was the one. You, Beatrice, and Christa-the one who nearly got to me-, were simply subjects of a bigger experiment. It was fun though. May you rest in purgatory."
My eyes widened at what he said, tears drying up, I lifted my head from Subaru's left shoulder to see him catching the body in his arms.
"Lucille, wake up."
*Silence*
"Lucille."
*Silence*
"Luci-"
"What do you want, you heathen?" she suddenly spoke in a bitter tone.
He chuckled, "There is no need to be so mean. I'm not at all surprised that your body was taken over so easily. You are still weak from your awakening."
She opened her eyes and pushed herself away from him, "I felt absolutely disgusted for being easily possessed like that." She turned to me, "...you probably don't trust your senses again, do you?"
I opened my mouth to say something, but only a shaky inhale could be heard in the now quiet room.
"I was possessed by that woman when she asked you those question. By the way, what did she mean by this particular human?"
"..."
"Speechless. Understandable. You just had an emotional breakdown..." She turned back to the family, "Can you give us some alone time?"
"S-Sure," Aunt Kimiko spoke. She looked to my uncle and Grandmother, "Junjie, Mama..."
They were gone in an instant.
"Yes, Mother Lucille," Kanato spoke..quietly.
My brothers were gone.
"Subaru," Father called to him.
"It's o-kay..if h-he stays," I spoke up in a strained, weak tone.
I didn't think Subaru would let go anyway.
~Tiny Time Skip~
After Subaru lifted me in his arms and placed me back in my bed while he and Mama sat beside me on each side, we decided to have a light conversation about what I said earlier.
We agreed to clear things up in the morning; as for now, let me and Mama get some rest.
Subaru decided to stay in room until I fell asleep.
Snuggling into my sheets and blanket, I closed my eyes, letting my mind wonder for a while.
'Home... Big Sister's Home... It's perfect.'
(Tbh, I didn't know what to do with this chapter by the time I revived Estelle. I was like, "where should with this go after I do that...?" I thought about doing some kind of special arc after this chapter, but I couldn't really think of anything because, let's be honest, it's kinky enough with Laito around! XD Jkjk, I thought about doing some parallel world where there's an apocalypse, but I'll save that for my Special Arcs with Seraph of the End...which I need to work on as soon as possible.)