"Why?! Why!"
Miku's wails echoed through the tower as she slammed her fists into the doors that had closed behind Meiko. Ia stood back beside her sister, her fingers clenched at the hem of her shirt. Every resonance of the tealette's voice drove the dagger of betrayal further into her heart.
Stupid girl… it isn't like they wanted this.
Ia had lived a happy life as a baker. The scent of fresh bread, and her sweet sister's smile every day, were the nicest things to wake up to each day. The sunshine filtering through the windows of their kitchen, the frequent visits of their group- they were memories she cherished.
And then, one day, it ended. The peaceful, darling life they had built was swept out from underneath them, sending them all reeling back into the darkness they had narrowly escaped together years ago.
Miku had been excited, facing the nine of them who had been summoned to her side, waving a piece of parchment Ia had wished to set fire to.
"I've been chosen as the next Messiah!"
She had been so happy, the grin splitting her face, her cheerfulness overwhelming- while Ia felt the dread crawl through her skin to grip her heart. She didn't understand what she was saying; she didn't realize what that meant.
Ia treated Miku as a sibling, taught her how to bake and in return was aided in the pursuit of sewing. She was a kind, gentle woman, but naive.
The tealette was horribly oblivious to what she faced. Enthusiastically she bubbled on about bringing the next wave of peace, collecting the 'blessings' of the tower and gaining another fifteen years of serenity.
The pale-haired girl couldn't bear a single word of it. The image of her friends' faces scorched her thoughts, the forced smiles and hastened laughter as they congratulated her.
None of them could genuinely be happy. All they could do was put on masks, to appease their doomed friend.
At first she thought of running away, but it was a broken thought before she could give it more attention. Kaito brought each of them together, the night before they were to depart towards the Tower of AI, and gravely brought up what was on everyone's minds.
The blessings for the Messiah. Or rather, the atonement. Required for the Messiah to undertake, the so-called blessings meant nothing but agony for Miku, hidden under the guise of purity.
So they one by one agreed, under the light of the full moon, that they would share in her pain. She could remember clearly each reaction; Kaito and Meiko were solemn, and Gakupo had anxiously toyed with his ponytail. Len and Rin had exchanged looks, communicating through their sibling bond. Luka had bitten her bottom lip, and Gumi had jotted something down in her book of poems, stoic as ever, though any one of them could tell she felt shaken. The one that she recalled the clearest was Mayu. Her childish sister had simply stared off into the distance, unresponsive, her ocher eyes dimmed and seeming far beyond her years.
No one objected to the agreement, however. The silence spoke for itself. They would allow her to safely pass through the tower- even if that meant betraying her, and losing their lives.
That's what family meant to them. Ia would never forget that.
This meant nothing for her fears, however. How could she willingly accept death like that? Surely the world would perish if Miku didn't fulfill her duty as Messiah, but then wouldn't they cherish every moment until then? Couldn't they accept that route, instead of the path tied with fate's bloody thread?
Why did things have to end in such tragedy? She couldn't make sense of it.
She almost felt a strong sense of hate toward Miku, but it diminished when she realized that the younger girl couldn't control the road they'd taken. Once she was chosen, their destinies had already been set in motion, toward an unstoppable end.
The bitterness stayed, however, to color her words and actions. She tried her best to stay cheerful, if nothing else than for her sister's sake; but that was moot when they finally came to the tower. Staring at the world's core, she had felt any sense of happiness drain away.
How could she smile, when the end drew so near?
No one made a move to comfort the tealette in her grief, and Ia had let out a sigh of despair. One of them would be next. Who? Who would willingly throw themselves to an atonement meant for someone else?
Mayu's movements had startled her. Her precious, childish sister strode with purpose towards the glowing opening of the next blessing, as if she would be the one to take it- and the older one felt her heart stop.
She couldn't watch her only sibling choose death. She couldn't accept it.
"W-what are you doing-?!" Miku called in horror, scrambling from the floor to chase after Mayu, the others moving with less enthusiasm, not a single happy face in the bunch. "I- I'm the one chosen for this, you can't-!"
The Messiah had almost reached the girl before Ia beat her to it, pushing her aside and grabbing Mayu's arm before she could enter where a gold blessing lay shimmering, waiting to be activated at her hand. She glared at Miku, before looking at her sister.
The wheat-haired girl let out a protest, but Ia shushed her, tugging her away. She then rubbed the top of her head, the soft locks she used to brush for her every night tread between her fingers.
"Sorry, dear sister," she said, her words emotionless and confident, her expression morphing into one of deceit. "I'll be taking this one."
I'm sorry.
She halfway expected a protest from Mayu's lips, as she stepped inside to take the blessing; but instead she saw anger, frustration, along with a sorrow that tore at her heart.
A smile twisted into the older sister's features, which barely hid the sadness she felt when the doors slammed between her and her remaining friends.
Her facade dropped quickly, and she was left to stare at the glowing brilliancy of the floating atonement. It looked beautiful, one of the prettiest things she'd ever seen; but she was filled with nothing but disgust for it.
Mayu, she breathes out, straining to hear anything beyond the walls around her and finding nothing. I'm sorry. I wish I could have said goodbye.
She touches the emblem; it flashes, and she's blind, trapped in white that won't fade. She can't see anything through the brightness, and her skin is warm, as if under the sun's rays. Her throat dries, and stinging takes place. It's unbearably hot, and she can't focus on anything. Her thoughts scatter, and she wants out; but there is nothing to guide her, and nowhere to go. No breeze, just purely light and heat.
She clutches her throat and coughs; something about the air tears itself down her throat, making everything painful, and she falls to her knees, wishing for something to drink, anything liquid.
Is this how I'll die?
She thinks of the two who had gone before her, the eldest of their group who had faced their own punishments. Such brave souls to have voluntarily taken the pain upon themselves, to start the cruel betrayals.
She wonders if the others can handle their choice. Can they bear the rest of the 'blessings' on their own?
A chapped smile surfaces. They are all so strong… They can do it, she's sure.
Even her sister, who relied on her for everything, was strong enough to face her own obstacle.
She takes in a deep, painful breath, her pale braids hanging in her face. Her strength is draining away from her.
Only six left, and then… Miku is able to save the world she loves so much.
I've played my part, so now…
Good luck.
A/N: This is unbeta'd.
This fic has given me so much trouble but I still adore it, wah-
To be honest this is so much angst I don't know what I'm writing, but I do seem to enjoy it once I hit my groove. As for y'all? I hope you like it as much as I do.
Written listening to 'Collar X Malice BGM Premonition', 'Goodbye April Doppel Len English ver', and 'One Punch Man- Opening.'.
(Please don't ask what my music taste is, even I don't know at this point.)
Anyway, thanks for reading this mess of sadness, I'll see you all in the next chapter. :3
Read on~!
~disclaimer~ I own only the joy of being an older sister, and a love of sunlight, nothing more.