A Munto Fanfiction: Infatuated © RedWingedAngel002
Disclaimer: Munto; Sora Miageru Shōjo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Sekai © Kyoto Animation; Yoshiji Kigami and Tomoe Aratani
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Friendship, and Romance
Summary: In every sense, I am aware of you… MxY.
A/N: Once again, these were some helpful and inspiring pieces: Of Emeralds and Rubies by: ElfMaidenOfLight and At the Feet of the Grass by: Tripleguess
Song: Phaeleh—In The Twilight by: Mr. Suicide Sheep and Deep by: Pearl Jam
Japanese Index:
Chichi-ue: Respectful way of addressing one's father
-sama: Honorific: The respectful equivalent of -san; -sama is primarily in addressing persons of much higher rank: Lord, Lady
"Talking."
'Thinking.'
Memories/Flashbacks.
Chapter 3: Bitter Denial
It has been hours since the sun had set and he made contact with the Girl of Destiny. The skies were now painted red within the oncoming morning, as a warning towards the bloodshed to come, which would be seized if he did not succeed.
Too late, he was running out of time! He needed to hurry, or else—
Only a day has passed without Akuto. Munto gave an irritable, "Tsk," at his weary body, and he quickly shoved the weak feeling away to hone his magic.
It was so difficult to locate her, for she was just a mere ember compared to the lively flickers of each human spirit. It was daunting to find that such a feeble light was the hope to their future. And yet, he believed in her, for the Magical man knew she had the ability within Ryueri's sight. The Prophetess has never failed him, and he would not start doubting now.
Searching, and more searching, still. His floating form landed on the ledge of a cool rock. His direction was getting warmer.
Ah! There she was…!
Bullion cast one last glance to the skies above and unto his island. His home. His responsibility. His Kingdom.
It was time…
With a sweep of his maroon cape, the monarch broke through the rift, provided by the powers of the Outsider, and found himself consumed with light, magic, and a howling wind. Such force was required, for it was not easy to get passed the barrier of the space-time continuum. And yet, there was that small sliver, which still separated the two worlds.
Munto breathed in the foreign air. His unconscious noted that it smelled odd, unclean. And yet, had a hint of something… Something sweet and floral.
Of course, he took no mind to this strange scent and peered down at the cowering girl, whose form was encompassed within moonlight. From the looks of it, this must be her sleeping chambers. Another's resting light; one, no, three more, tickled his peripheral senses. Her family and kin, he presumed, filtered the household.
He saw that Yumemi was huddled in the corner of her bed, overwhelmed by his dramatic entry.
She could not keep pretending he was not there… He was! She needed to wake up and face the reality of this situation!
"Do not close your eyes," Munto ordered. "Do not take your eyes off of your future."
Yumemi finally uncoiled herself and turned to stare at him. "Who are you? A stalker ghost?"
The king felt his form stiffen. Such insolence! "Do not say 'you!' Address me as Munto-sama!" his sharp jaw snapped.
Wary green cast themselves downward, as she cradled her head with a sweating palm, and whispered to herself, "I've really gone crazy now…"
"You are not crazy!" She has to understand…! "You must believe in me and what you saw. You saw the destruction of two worlds and the extinction of both races." He lowered his voice slightly, attempting to calm the shaken girl. "But the world is struggling to avoid this and regain the relationship that existed in the ancient past. Now, Yumemi, lend me your power…"
"This is just a dream… an illusion," the blonde murmured in denial.
Munto gave a mental sigh, while red brows furrowed in distaste. It appears that he needed to be patient.
"I know you understand what I am saying."
—However, he never really was a patient man. The urgency of it all already had him on the edge.
"Yumemi, come now, there is no time left!"
Silence.
"Yumemi!" he cried.
Another suffocating echo, and then her voice was soft, "It's not like I asked to see you."
Selfish! She was just being a selfish little girl, who was blinded—!
"Your own future is going to be destroyed. It is not just you; it is everything! Your world will be annihilated unless you lend me your power."
'Open your eyes…!'
"Come to me." A coiled hand extended, strong and pale in the moonlight. No reaction. "Yumemi!"
"Shut up! I don't want to!" she cried in defense.
Munto's chest suddenly heaved, consumed within a firm grip of cold shock. The shaking fear and desperation of the tone…
His pale eyes widened as he blinked in surprise. Did his vision mislead him? That harsh push of force he had just felt… What he just witness within that spark of kindled fire…
She was the one.
But just as quickly as it came, it snuffed out.
"Why must I be the one?" Munto heard her whimper. "Why can't you find someone better? I don't have that kind of power!"
Doubtful, so uncertain of her own ability. The redheaded king had to encourage her.
"Only you can do it."
"I'm trying to say that I don't know what you're talking about!" her raised voice reproached. "Besides, you can't even touch me. How am I supposed to lend you my power?"
The corner of his lip lowered.
Yumemi then gave a defeated sigh, turned and cradled her brow once again. "This is no good. Who am I talking to? That sky and this strange man are my delusions…"
And then it dawned to him: This girl did not know who she was—what her importance was.
Pity and compassion rushed through Munto's chest. Despite the heavy burden of his role as a young King, he knew exactly who he was: he was the fated child who would bring forth order and the dwindling flow of the Akuto cycle. However, he needed her power for that.
He did not expect her to be so frightened of him…
'If she is not fully aware of her own abilities, then getting passed the space-time continuum will be…'
His voice softened in empathy, "Running away will not solve anything. In the past, our worlds were once connected by the flow of Akuto. But the cycle was broken a long, long time ago. Both worlds are now on the verge of destruction. In order to avert that, your power is needed! You have the power!" Munto pushed.
"How am I supposed to believe a ridiculous story like that?!" Her eyes were so fierce, like green fire. Yet, he saw, beneath it all, that they were so frightened. She was like a cornered animal, lashing out in fear.
"Look around you!" Yumemi stood to add onto her height. She was standing up to him, the great King of all Magic. He would have laughed at her bravery, if it were not for the desperation. "There is neither destruction nor devastation! Everyone is living in peace!"
Running… How long has this girl been running from herself?
"Destruction has already begun," he countered calmly. "You knew that when you saw it. You have the power to save us from that fate! You have the responsibility to the future."
Her raised arms flopped at her side in defeat. "If you're talking about homework, I've already finished mine."
His firm lips curved downward still. This was no matter to be making petty, smart-assed jokes! People were dying above their heads.
"I am talking to you about the future," Munto growled in frustration.
Her shaking knees then gave out, gradually accepting the burden of it all. "The future?"
Finally, she was starting to understand.
"Correct, the future of you and this world," the king confirmed with a nod.
Each breath was starting to become more and more labored, difficult to take in. His energy was sapping within every passing moment.
"I don't believe you or what your talking about, but I'll listen." With a flurry of golden locks, she turned to face him, revealing those luster irises of hers as they flickered, doubtful. "What can I do? Is there something I can really do?"
There she was again, calling him—!
"Address me as Munto-sama, not 'you!'" the prideful royal replied with a snarl.
Suddenly, there was pain, hot, searing pain encompassing his very core. Gradually, it was tearing him apart. His bare arms unconsciously rose to hold himself, to keep the magical connection at bay, and—
Within the roar of his palpitating heart rushing through his pointed ears, he heard her pleading voice. It appeared to be a mere whisper, as if in were muffled in water.
"Tell me, Munto, what can I do?"
He was drowning. The lack of Akuto, which sustained his physical life, was suffocating.
A shuttering gasp, followed by an unpleasant crash upon hard soil, left him writhing in pain. Dust filtered through his nostrils.
The connection was lost. At this rate, his aching body would not last.
Another sharp intake of breath. He needed to keep going, even if it cost his own life. He will get passed that wall and save them. He had to! He needed to get up…!
A memory, bright and lapping within the tenderness of his father's bass voice, drifted into his reverie.
"Now… Why do we fall?"
Munto tried to block it out, for the pain was too much, however, his weary state would not permit him to do so. His own young tenor soon followed suite, it high in pitch and filled with innocence…
"So Chichi-ue can help me back up?" Large, luster irises stared up at him in expectation.
Andreios' face quirked in surprised, which then morphed with a series of hearty laughs.
"That is right." A large hand came to his stout, tear-stained cheek and wiped away a lone droplet. "Chichi-ue will always pick you back up."
Munto groaned in backlash; curling into himself.
"However, that was not quite the answer I was looking for." the man's booming voice softened. He grasped the five-year-old's small palm and held it tenderly within his large one. "The reason why we fall is to get back up again." A grin broke from his stern features. "To keep moving forward. That's why…" *1
Finally, the memory faded. And yet, his chest was not only clenching from the lack of power, but from the raging emotions of it all. His jaw locked, attempting to conceal the strangled cry within his heaving chest.
It hurt. The redhead yearned for his father's sturdy support and admiration; longed for his mother's soft-spoken advice and affections. But he knew they would never be coming back. *2
Elder of Shozet's voice was so cold as he exclaimed with a sweep of his arm, "You are a bastard child, Munto—"
They betrayed him. They turned their backs on him. "We, the United Army—"
No! No, he would not let himself get consumed within another flashback!
"Get up!" he hissed in encouragement. The movements were stumbled and jerky, while his throat wheezed with each breath. "Get up!"
'Breathe. Keep moving. Keep it together. Do not falter. Get up,' he chided himself with simple steps.
"Keep moving forward." Stars danced across his fading vision; blurred at the seams.
"You cannot do this on your own…" The Outsider firmly stated.
He was losing himself.
"Heh, I suppose you're right," Munto admitted with a bitter scoff. The taste of metallic iron swathed his palate with red hues.
He recalled the none too kind exchange with the Gatekeeper of Time, who called him a fool and ordered in parting to go and face death, itself. So, this is what it was like... *3
"You are going to shove it in my face now, aren't you, Gas?" The claim was swept within the wind, not even permitted to echo about the wide, rocky planes.
Once again, his body faltered, colliding with the dusty soil.
The king soon found through first hand experience, that the Land of Death had harsh, hot days, whilst the nights were bleak and oh-so cold.
He struggled to sustain himself, his slipping sanity, along with his waning life. Of course, he was just talking to yet another memory.
"Keep it together…!" he snarled. His shaking arms would not move.
Munto could not do this by himself. He would have to push away his pride and admit the single truth: He needed her, needed that human's power.
He needed Yumemi…
Status and roles put aside, he finally realized, then, in the midst of his sluggish mind, how pitifully alone that girl must feel, not knowing who she was.
'Yumemi,' the Magical King choked.
One shaking last breath, and then his vision went black.
"Yumemi..."
A/N: This is a little longer than what I had expected. Four pages! And look! I actually extended it this time! Yaaay~!
Yeah, I know Munto didn't go crazy, but with the life energy suddenly out of his grasp, and in that much pain, one might tend to falter a bit. As always, I stretched that thought out to the max.
—Ari [10.20.11]
*1: Why We Fall: This flashback can be seen here, which will be mentioned in both Waiting For You and Tomorrow's Promise: fav. me/d4ar1eq
*2: Give this description a moment to settle. I find, in the end, Yumemi fills both of those missing roles of his late parents. In her own way, she supports him, obviously admires him, and yet, through her soft voice, gives advice (and snappy lectures), as well as loving affection.
*3: Reference to the first original OVA opening, which was removed from the series: youtu. be/kqDdSxQwYtw