Chapter Five –

Promise

**Okays, this is gonna leave a lot of questions, but in the next chapter you'll hopefully understand what happened. Sowwie its bad XD

=] ***

Albedo didn't know what happened.

He hated how he didn't know what happened.

He even hated Rubedo – he hated his twin for not telling him a word.

He promised me no one would leave me. Is this what I'll have to deal with? With my eternal body, my everlasting blood. –

Is it lies I'll have to deal with? Along with the pain?

She spiralled in his darkened thoughts. The idea of wishing he never met her. Soon, his thoughts turned just as dark as the room he was sitting in: why couldn't he have killed her when he could? Oh, how easy that would've been! His arms had been wrapped around her neck; maybe if he had pulled hard enough she'd be dead. And he wouldn't feel such pain. Life would've been easy. At that point when he knew her, he didn't know he loved her, yet alone liked her. She was so different from everyone else: she was his only escape from the world he knew; from the death, the screaming, from the tears.

He wanted the sympathy of his twin at his side. He wanted to hold him, tell him everything would be okay; he needed Rubedo to be there. He wanted Rubedo to be there to some extent, but on the other hand he hated Rubedo. Why couldn't he just tell him what was going on? Why did he have to keep secrets from him? They weren't kids anymore. No matter what he said.

But still, Albedo had found himself sitting on the bed Rubedo peacefully lay in. His one foot rested on the floor, the other rested on the soft blue material. In the darkness of the room he could just about see Rubedo's chest move as he inhaled, and exhaled. He was happy Rubedo and Nigredo were alive and unharmed. They were just as important to him as she was; if they had all been injured he'd be devastated. If they had all died …

… he couldn't even bring himself to think of that. He wouldn't let himself think of that.

After a moment of staring down at his sleeping twin, he reluctantly pulled away from Rubedo, careful to retreat without notice. He refused to let himself wake up Rubedo – mostly for the fact he'd avoid any conversation about her. Rubedo would pretend nothing had happened – he'd probably yell at Albedo for waking him up, telling him not to act so childish and to sleep in his own bed. For once Rubedo was acting cold; he had done for the entire day since they got back. He refused to let Albedo go to the Medical room, or even to her home. Rubedo even threatened Albedo to the point he was bawling on the floor; crying like a baby. And even then he was cold.

Rubedo was cold.

He was never cold. Not even when they had learned about Albedo; he hadn't acted cold then.

As Albedo walked through the room, heading for his own bed, he passed Nigredo. Unlike Rubedo, Nigredo was calm; a calm tinkling river; the complete opposite to Albedo and their redheaded fiery brother. He was always impossible to read, silent and mysterious. He hadn't spoken a single word since they left the Simulator. He hadn't even been seen for most of the day – he had disappeared off somewhere.

Most likely to see her.

Albedo's fists clenched up as an overwhelming anger flushed through him. Why did they get to know what happened to her? Why did they get to be told that she had died? Because that was it: she was dead. She had to have been dead and they were the only ones who were allowed to know of it! A sharp disgust went through Albedo's stomach, replacing all the misery and confusion. He couldn't stand to be in the room with them, he wanted to be alone; isolation was the best place for him. Just him and his thoughts.

Albedo silently opened the door, walking into the dark hallway. Quietly, he shut the door behind him, before placing his back on the cold wall. He slid down it gently, sitting on the floor. Trembling, he un-clenched his fists. Breathing deeply, the anger inside of him turned back into the misery and confusion he had felt before. Why was it that he couldn't die? Why had he been damned with such a curse?

Albedo bit his lip. Those others, those dolls of destruction were allowed to fight. They were allowed to fight and destroy U-DO. They were allowed the relief of death. But not him. Death wouldn't claim him – not death itself would take the poor, lonely child. Instead, the Devil toyed with him. Teasing him by giving him death but not letting him taste the sweetness himself.

Once Albedo felt more stable, he stood up to his feet, shaking slightly as he did. He refused to let himself cry. He might have thought she was dead, but that might not have been true. Perhaps he was lucky enough that she would be alive – maybe something good out there would give her a second chance, and won't let him feel pain. Maybe, just maybe; if he prayed hard enough. Albedo tip-toed back into the room, looking around. Everything was the same – his twin shifted restlessly in his sleep as he always did, and Nigredo just silently lay there, unmoving like most of the room. He let his gaze linger for a moment longer, just in case someone had caught him awake. Nothing. He moved to his own bed, climbing onto his slightly; not even letting it squeak. He stuffed his head under his pillow, to contain himself in the darkness. Maybe if he cut off all his senses, he wouldn't cry or even think of her. He would just sleep and if he was lucky – he would sleep forever.

He didn't notice the person at the foot of the bed until a small touch of his side startled him out of his skin.

Before Albedo could move, the body was already in the bed, curling up under the blankets to the side of him.

The scent of roses mixed with lilies entered his nostrils, as well as that little sickly scent of hospital bandages.

Is it …?

"S-Sedaytion?" he stammered, trying to rise.

He was pushed back down by firm hands, and a gentle kiss on his neck made him shiver. His face turned bright red. "It's okay. Shh, go to sleep," the voice whispered gently. A cold hand was placed on his cheek. "Everything's going to be alright. Promise." The lips touched his skin again, helping his body relax. He was happy; happy she was alive. He moved his head from under his pillow, so he was able to see her face.

She looked tired and exhausted, a few scraps were on her face. Her bright eyes looked up at him as he wrapped his arm around her back, pulling her closer to him. He was never going to let her go again; no matter what. Albedo was going to protect her, forever. She'd never die; never ever.

Both were awake, yet neither of them moved much; they stayed were they were, more then content to be close to each other again. Gently, he twirled her hair around his finger.

"No one would tell me if you were alive or not," he whispered. "I guess they were doing it to protect me. Sedaytion … will you make me a promise?"

"What is it?" she asked quietly, lifting her head.

"Don't ever leave me," he said. "I don't want to be left alone. They're all going to die, apart from me. I don't want to be alone – stay with me. Always."

Albedo could only just hear the soft, slightly muffled reply but it let his lips curl into a smile.

"Promise. We'll never be alone."