AN: Surprised I'm updating so quickly? Trust me, I'm surprised too. You can thank Reyrocks, ps, and Girl Wonder 2005 for this update, also the amazing people that added this story to their alert/favorite list! I figured since you guys take the time to review this story then shouldn't I take the time to write something in time for thanksgiving. (I'm an American, so Happy Thanksgiving everyone!) And please enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Pandora Hearts.
Ameliorate
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object), -rat·ed, -rat·ing.
to make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; improve; meliorate.
A flash of metal, the light shone upon her face for a fleeting moment before the darkness enveloped her once more. Sharon Reinsworth looked down upon the man that she had just killed with little remorse. There was no guilt in her steps as she walked away from the body. The scent of blood tickled her nose, the heavy stench of iron flooding the room. Somewhere within her, something smiled at the pure unadulterated thrill that spread throughout her fingertips. It was like electricity the prickling sensation horrifying yet beautiful at the same time.
This was her first kill and it wouldn't be her last. It was no longer what she was doing this for, rather it was the need that crushed her lungs, the commands issued by the power she could not contain.
Slowly she ran a hand over the blade, wiping away the red stain of her sin. This was it for her, this was all that she could do for the world that she had been tossed out of. Yet there was something more that she longed for. All those memories, that feeling from what seemed like so long ago, she wanted-
She wanted everything back.
She wanted him back.
For a moment her hand wavered, the nukata clattering to the ground. Her heart gave a shuddering jolt, for s second she felt alive again. The rush of warmth flooded her body. She cradled the trembling limb to her body, willing it all to stop. Sharon cursed herself for that moment of weakness. Beneath it all she knew that there was no going back.
Why dream of a paradise that she could never attain?
Sharon shook her head, she couldn't let her self be tortured by those moments. Each tantalizing second only hurt more when it ended.
In slow staggering steps, she stepped outside into the blinding white light. She blinked back the sudden onslaught of brightness.
"Miss?"
A voice called, Sharon's head snapped to the sound, her eyes instantly alert. That shock of blond hair, the tall dark haired man that stood by him side. No. It couldn't be.
Slowly Oz's eyes' widened as he recognized her.
She flew into action, her hands never wavering as she ran at him. Instantly she was able to engrave the hatred into her eyes. They couldn't, they simply couldn't know that it was her.
Gil clenched his jaw, pulling out the gun with no hesitation. He pointed it at her form, ready to shoot should she move any closer. He lost his master once, he wouldn't lose Oz again.
Not for anyone.
His finger pulled on the trigger, eye's wide as he waited for his target to fall. That was all that she was, the moment she turn a blade on his master Sharon became nothing more than just another target for him. Gil's eyes flashed with deadly precision, he raised the gun again the barrel trained on her crumpled form.
She fell backwards a hand pushing on the streak of red where the bullet had grazed her side. She never met either of their eyes. Sharon stumbled back, biting her bottom lip and tearing into the flesh.
"GIL! What are you doing?" The insistent hand pulled his arm down, and missing the second shot. At that moment the woman took her chance. The deadly edge of the blade glinted with everything that she was. And for all that she was, she vanished into the air.
As though she had never been there at all.
From the rooftops Alice watched the scene. Her smile had twisted into a bitter frown. The smell of a chain reeked from Sharon, she knew exactly who that was. Her eyes were not to be fooled. For less than a second Sharon had stood there, in point blank of the shot.
She had let herself be shot. Alice clenched her fists her tiny frame shuddering with the anger that spread like a wildfire throughout her body. The Will of Abyss had cursed Sharon with something more. She could never die at her own hand.
Likely Sharon already knew that.
Slow agonized steps could be heard from behind her. Sharon jerked up, staring at her in shock. Of all people-
"Sharon, you really have returned haven't you?" Alice spoke those words without looking at the girl.
"Why." Alice bit out the word like a command. But she didn't want to know why the other girl had returned. "Why did you just stand there and take that bullet."
Sharon remained silent, her hands trying in vain to curb the trail of blood that poured freely from the graze.
"Alice, I'm sorry." She whispered.
Sharon nodded towards Gil and Oz as they searched for her. It struck her for the first time, as she stood watching them. From that moment forward she would always be standing on the other side of the battlefield watching what she could have again.
"SORRY FOR WHAT?" Alice turned her venomous gaze on Sharon, "Don't you see it? They need you far more than they need me. Break will never be able to let you go. What possible good did you think killing yourself would do? Don't let yourself be underestimated by the Will of Abyss. She let you back! Prove her wrong. Throw off her power!" Alice took in a deep breath, looking away from her former friend.
With those words she stormed away. Sharon let out a small, whimsical smile. It all seemed so easy to return back, it all seemed so simple when she said it.
Alice hadn't changed a bit.
Something that simple could be worth so much.
"Gil." Oz's voice quavered slightly as he rested his head against Gil's shoulder. His fingers traced the blood that had spilled from the woman's cut. It was the only evidence that she had been there.
"Gil," He tried again, "she said something to me."
His voice lowered to a whisper. He sounded thoughtful as he spoke.
"She told me: Don't say it. Don't say my name. I don't want him to-"
Oz gave a slight chuckle at the words. The last of her words had been blown away. Only the rustling of leaves was left in her wake.
He closed his eyes, savoring the heat from the fire. Somewhere within that woman Oz knew Sharon still existed.
"Sharon-chan, it's a promise."
As the night fell Xerxes Break returned to his room. On the desk sat a single blue rose wrapped in a red satin ribbon. His hands ran over the stem of the flower, his eyes lost in memories.
Slowly he was lead to the window. Break looked out at the cloudless night, a palm touching the glass that barred him from the outside.
A slow warmth flooded his finders. The feeling of another hand joining his. While it was all just a mirage, for a second Sharon felt the palm of her hand burn. Burning with a longing that she could never envision.
For a second it quieted the demon within her.
For a second she felt as though she was whole again.
For a second she believed that there was hope.
But then that feeling was gone, and she felt nothing. The world had stilled for that one moment.
That one moment would be enough to get them through the night.
Sharon would sleep that night, lulled by the gentle tenor of Break's voice.
Break leaned against the wall, his body simply exhausted, void of energy. He clutched the stem of the rose, not even noticing the trail of blood that ran from his fist. He held onto the flower with a death grip. It was the only thing that he could believe in.
At that moment, Break didn't notice the sender of the flower, a small dainty card that sat forgotten by the desk.
He held the rose up to his face, breathing in the scent.
"Sharon I know that you are out there. And I will find you. My ojou-sama."
He fell asleep with those words on his lips.
AN: Not as long as the last chapter. But I didn't want to encroach upon the next chapter's territory. So please please please review! They really do help. And they make me happy. *pouts*
