Sunleth Terrace of Remnants
"I still see the world from the eyes of a child. -Amy Lee"
I can't remember how long I was out. But when I woke I could see familar faces. They were different now they had aged faster then we should have but at least the war had been won. Lucy was no more but on the same note Nyuu was gone to all that remained was me, Kotone the original. The only one in my mind and body. Blinking blurring eyes I could see Nozomi and Yuuka in the room some how I'm really grateful that it's just the two of them. Only they could see how thin an ill I looked after the battle with my child self had been.
With Lucy being gone the vaccine had been made Nana or as Kurama renamed her Kaname, Mariko, and I had taken it. Our dna was altered back to that of a humans. Kaname and Mariko now looked their true age which happened to be respectively 5 and 7. Our hair and eyes even changed to a normal color. Kaname has blonde hair and honey brown eyes . Mariko has brown hair and one blue and one brown. My hair changed to a silky black with blonde highlights added by Nozomi but my eyes are a jade greeny blue. But the thing biggest change was the regenration of Kaname and Mariko lost body limbs.
Kouta had been surprised to see all of us getting along weridly I can't seem to not to want to protect Kame-imouto and Mako-imouto. They will grow in a new world were no will ever hate them for being different. Not like how I grew up. They are just children not the devil's playthings anymore just as I wasn't the queen of hell. Fate had changed an so had I for the better. Shaking my head I struggled to sit up in my cot on the floor. With trembling knee's Yuuka was the one to study me an help me anchor myself to a chair. I would have to get better soon for the two I considered my younger siblings.
Taking a deep breath I tried once again to walk around the room. Still weak but a bigger improvement compared to hours ago when all I could do was sit in bed. I need a shower and food. I smell of copper and sea breeze with a faint hint of Kouta's body spray still remaining. Pushing my stubborn body with help of Nozomi and Yuuka, I'm able to take a much needed shower. Now I want food and time with my family. I exhale a breath an realize for the first time in a while "I'm free, alive, and I HAVE A FAMILY! I HAVE A FAMILY! I LOV M!" Soon I'm dressed in a simple flowing blue dress with a pair of black leggings that have lace at the bottom of the legs. With my hair pulled into a simple fish braid.
The way to the dining room is seemingly faster the the trip to the bathroom. Soon Nozomi and Yuuka have me seated with Kaname and Mariko attached to my side. Each girl at my side has a unique style all their own. Kaname has this girlish dress thats strip's of rainbow with legging's like mine while Mariko is sporty with blue jean shorts an a peach colored shirt with black and white stripped knee socks. Since the change Kaname's hair had grown past her shoulders into curly ringlets while Mariko's stayed the same she just keeps it in a high ponytail.
The food was just a simple ramen but like anything Yuuka cooks it's amazing. As Mayu and Nozomi set the table Kouta and Kurama wonder into the room both carrying a curious glance my way. As everyone is seated Mayu beside Nozomi, Nozomi beside Yuuka, Yuuka across from Kouta, Kouta beside Kurama, and Me seated between my younger imoutos. I carefully noted how much they ate. They weren't eating enough for my taste so I grab them both a second helping. Soon I was yawning as I had my fill. As if they were contagious Kaname and Mariko soon followed.
I'm helped to my feet by Kouta, Kaname and Mariko give sleepy protest that I move. But soon Kurama has both of his daughter's in his arms with the intent to take them both to their respective beds. With a look directed at me by Kouta I knew it was time we had a heart to heart about what happened at the light house up till now. Taking a deep breath; 'I will face him I won't run away anymore.' As if he could sense I needed help but I didn't want to ask for because I happen to independent. He motion's he wants to go out beyond the foyer into the outside world. I'm handed a pair of easy to slip on glitter blue ballet flats by Mayu. Her small hand lingers on mine for a few seconds more then needed but I can on assume its for reassurance that I'm still here and not a monster.
Kouta looks at me as I start down the stairs in front of him. Grasping the railing to make sure I don't sway or fall. I feel the wind and the sun on my skin reminding me I'm here an not dying. Closing my eyes as I reach the gate I'm soon greeted by the family dog Wanta who looks happy to see me up and around. I lean down an simply give him a pat on the head. Kouta bumps into crouched my down form. He effectively knocks me over leading me to be pounced on by Wanta. As he settles down on my lap I wince as my muscles ache but I make sure he hasn't noticed.
I looked him in the eyes an soon start the speach I had wanted to say day's ago on the stairs of the lighthouse. "Kouta I'm sorry for what I did when we were younger. I took Kanae and your father from you. I don't expect you to forgive me but I will spend the rest of my life fixing my mistakes with the help of Kurama I will make it all right." Taking a breath as I finally said what I had regreted all my life. I lowered my head to gaze at the setting sun only to have Kouta remind me politely to look at him by him saying "Nyuu look at me, what happened then I will never forgive you for but that you died when you came back to life with the vaccine. I loved that lonely little girl as I did Nyuu but you have changed for the better. You are beautiful and learning to be a better person. I know someday it will be okay for everyone in this family. But I can't be with someone who doesn't want to be with me because they don't love me." My heart breaks just a little more inside I literally could hear it break. Tears surfaced an I said in a tear strained voice "Kouta thank you but I need to go I'll be back after I have sorted out my mind. But you are right I don't love you at all any more." Soon I'm off the ground making a sprint for the gate trying to get it open after a failed attempt I'm out sprinting out away from Kouta toward the beach.
At the beach I'm crouched where I first met Bando in the rain but I'm not a scared little child this time. I'm a heart broken girl who should have seen this coming but I didn't. My knee's are tear stained and I ache but I don't want to leave this place yet. My shoes are not to far away along with Wanta. I had been in such a hurry that Wanta had followed me on my way here. My face is burried into my knees an I'm soon being calmed by the sound of the sea and the feeling of running out of tears. Soon I can hear my name "KOTONE! KOTONE! WHERE ARE YOU! PLEASE COME OUT I'M HERE FOR YOU!" It sounded like Yuuka as soon the thought ran through my mind I see her sprinting to me accross the beach toward me. She drop's to her knee's an pulls me into a hug and saying "I've been looking every where Kouta is stupid. He doesn't realize he hurt you. I know we have never been on good terms but starting now that changes. You are family and we are sister's, You and the other girls are my siblings that I never got to have. It's going to hurt for a while but you know what it gets easier as the healing process goes on." She pulls me to my feet and reaches out for my shoes.
Yuuka makes me dust off then makes me wash my feet in the water an put my shoes back on. She makes sure I'm free of sand an shells. We stroll around the beach in a warm silence. Only till I break it by saying in a quite voice "You loved Kouta to at one point what changed?" Yuuka gives this look that says 'I never really liked him like that' but she responds with "I don't think it was love it was obession of sorts. He doesn't love me like that I'm just 'Little Yuuka' to him. I highly dought he'll ever fall in love." I can now see what had changed. He wouldn't hurt ether of us by chosing so he gave us both up. But in doing so I no longer want to be the love of his life.
We walked together down the beach path toward the stairs toward the side walk so we could walk into town together. The wind tugged the ends of my hair as if to tell me to notice something. I paused in mid-step, pushing Yuu-onee-chan behind me. What I noticed was a small childlike steps beside an older set of man's. My heart nearly stopped but I wanted to investigate the tracks. If only I had the right supplies. Glancing at Yuuka I would return with her and Kurama when I had light. But what I failed to see that night would turn Kurama's blood cold there were a pair of foot step's roughly her size.
I grab Yuuka's hand and hasten our pace toward the road. My mind had to be playing tricks on me. Glacing behind us I felt like anything could jump out an get us at any point. Some how we ended up back at the inn. My heart was still jumping. I made sure as we got back in the gate that Wanta was in the inn and the all doors and the gate were locked. Soon I found myself at Kurama's door knocking. He soon openned the door an gave me a look that said 'Can I help you with something?' and I only responed with "I need you to come with me and Yuuka to the beach tomorrow."
The look on his face changed replaced with a face of resolve. I knew he knew I needed him down there. Something told me the nocturne of requiem has just started. I may have ended Lucy the queen but there must have been experiments left in the research lab just waiting to get out. My whole body ached as I left Kurama's room slowly I sunk down to the floor beside my door with my head in my hands I could feel the hot burning pain shot through my body. Closing eyes I fall into a dreamless sleep.
When I woke I felt better no pain but I did want to get up an get the day started. My little group which consisted of Yuuka and Kurama would be checking out the beach scap were the foot prints had been. While we did that Bando and Mayu would be keeping an eye on Kaname and Mariko they would be helped by Kouta as long as he WASN'T bothering me or Yuuka. Because right now I didn't want to deal with him. Shaking my head I headed toward the bathroom to take a bath only to find 'Tall, dark, and super annoying' in the bath. Huffing out an annoyed sigh I stomped my way toward Nozomi's room just to take a cold shower. After my glacier shower I changed into an outfit Yuu-onee-sama picked out which consisted of a pair of jeans with a bejewel back pockets and a striped shirt that was turquoise and white. I'd be wearing my black gliz converse to complete the outfit.
Heaving out a sigh I picked up my shoes an made my way out of Nozomi's room toward the diningroom. Only to have Yuuka yank the ends of my hair telling me she would be pulling the stubborn locks into a high messy bun all while shaking her head. As soon as she was done she pushed me as if to say 'Hurry up imoto!' all while dismissing me. We would head down to the beach as soon as the girls were dressed and had breakfeast. What we would find at the beach would be a discovery that would shock the party to our core's. What on earth could have unleash the royale of pain that I knew the on coming storm would come. I can feel the calm around me shatter as we gather our packs. The girl's had their packs ready along with a lunch packed for everyone in a cooler. I could feel two hands grasp my with a twin voices saying "Ko-chan! Let's go play on the beach together!" I grasp their tiny hands in mine. We all file into a line of sorts beside me are the girls, not to far away is Mayu who is holding hands with Bando, behind me are Nozomi and Kouta who seem to be lost in their own little world, and beside Kaname were Kurama and Yuuka.
As we reached the beach the group split the girls with Bando and Mayu, Nozomi and Kouta walking together along the beach. And Yuuka and Kurama with me. As I made may to the area that I had noticed last night with Yuuka. Something in the sand shocked me to my core it was a little girls bow. One like Kouta's little sister had wore! And the step's beside the little girls steps had to be his fathers. But they were dead had been since I killed them myself. Deciding to go farther down the cobblestoned path I noticed traces of blood an various patch's of death along the path. Taking a deep breath I made Yuuka turn back to were the step's started she would take picture's while Kurama and I investigate the path. Looking around something caught my attention. There was something glittering in the sun but to what I'd need to see closer.
Moving past Kurama I tried to reach the object by jumping only to end up slipping and nearly falling into the pool of blood that was near me. Gasping as Kurama caught me in his arms. Pulling me closer he seemed to want to sheild me from the on coming storm. But as we seperated he lifted me an I grasped the object in my hands only to see the same jade stone Kouta had given me as a child. How had it gotten here it had been burried beside my puppy that had been murdered in front of my eyes along with a letter to Kouta. Confusion soon filled my mind 'What the hell is going on here? No one had seen me that day in the wood's when I burried this. How the hell had this gotten here?' Where did all of the carnage and the stone fit into this on coming storm? I don't think these question could be answered till found what made all three sets of foot steps.