Amber Memories, Forgotten
-This would only hurt us Both-
A/N: Remember what I said about this being a tragedy? It's going to get worse and I'm starting to regret. D:
I had been feeling so hollow inside that I feared floating away,
Like a balloon that rose so high up one couldn't even see the smallest dot of anything.
I knew what happened to those lost balloons-
They were the loves that slipped out of our hands,
The blank dots that rose in every night;
The ones that shine on our darkest hours.
The young man watched and allowed a smile to slide though his lips as he discreetly observed the group of kids. It was Rhode's birthday and naturally, Sheryl Camelot would make the best out of everything so as to please his daughter. The party was invited not only the young girl's friends but part of the gentry- a win-win solution for the minister.
Tyki Mikk swirled his flask a little before taking a sip from his red wine, eyes never leaving his target. He had been observing her since her name was announced by the butler when she entered, yet he did not approach the young lady but allowed his brother to do so. As expected, Rhode too was elated to see her- she seemed to have forgiven her for yelling at her uncle just a week ago. Traitor, he joked. Now, the young girl was busy surrounding herself with her friends in school and making sure that their female visitor was involved too. Balloons floated around as the children kicked and beat them around.
Kaeda Amber was among the kids, clearly enjoying the moment as she played along with them. Her genuine smiles flashed charitably here, warming his heart and everyone around her even for that fleeting moment. It was the same, he realized, even after so many things had happened- this young lady was good with children. Perhaps, that was one of the reasons his human had fallen for her.
How pathetic, he chuckled softly to himself, taking yet another sip of his wine and his gaze shifted away for a while.
The aristocrat was about to savor the lingering taste that slid down his throat smoothly, when he suddenly noticed the young lady had stood up all of a sudden. Kaeda fussed a little longer with the kids, before excusing herself away from the children, moving towards the balcony.
It was his time to strike, he noted as a smirk crept up his handsome features and he followed the lady.
Yet that was when he saw her falling down onto the floor, barely reaching into the night sky.
Kaeda shifted in the bed, frowning as she attempted to wake up. Her head was killing her, as if something inside had a bolt unscrewed, resulting in everything throbbing and going chaotic. The bed was warmth and soft, she realized, making her pain less aching but still…
"Kaeda," said a gentle voice as a warm hand stroked back her hair on her forehead. It felt all so familiar. "It's okay. Go back to sleep."
The young lady nodded her head slightly as she snuggled deeper into the bed, as if that would make the pain sink away. She felt herself tucked under a blanket, the end of the cloth neatly placed under her arms, his hand caressing her forehead like a rhythmic lullaby.
She did not know what or who it was, but it was sufficient enough to make her trust the person as if she knew him for so long.
The first thing she had noticed was the choking smell of smoke that threatened to stain her lungs black forever. Towers of fire reach up as far as she could see; the whole mansion consumed by flames, licking and licking as it savored the entire building. She had to get in. God, she just had to. She was the one who started it. Half of her family, the only people left in this world worth living for, was trapped inside. They were yelling, she knew, yelling as the pain was so tremendous you would wish for an instant death. She knew, because she had experienced it before. So, please, those hands that grabbed her in their attempt to stop her please let go. She charged into the heat, casting away the pain that races up and embraced itself around her. Her vision blurred even though she was unsure if it came from her emotions or the smoke. Then she saw a dark outline of a hand- the symbol of life. She held onto it tight, yanking the person out as she did so. Yes, her mother and brother would now be free, breathing in fresh air, their lungs now clean and pink. Yet why was it that when she stared down at the face, it only reflected hers? Louder, louder, her scream could only pierce the sky so high, but she could never, never save them-
"Kaeda, Kaeda wake up," said the soft voice again, this time urgently. She felt a rhythm patting on her arm. "It's only a nightmare, it's okay…"
The young lady bolted up straight from the bed, looking fazed by what had happened. Alarmed, she stared straight at the man who woke her up and almost screamed when she recognized who it was.
"Quiet," hushed the man as he pressed the tips of his fingers to her lips. "I did not do anything to you."
Kaeda continued to stare at the man, perspiration that had gushed out of her now began to slow down to a flicker.
Noticing that she had toned down, the young man removed his hand. The debonair knitted his brows and massaged his temple. "You had fainted all of a sudden," he explained, smiling as he watched Kaeda's features relaxing- that was what he had liked to see. The young man then decided to move his face closer to hers, and said in a deliberate accusing manner. "And that's my bed you are lying in."
"What?" exclaimed the lady before she tried to scramble out of the mess of cloth. Her eyes were wide with shock, her cheeks slightly flushed with embarrassment. "Lord Mikk, I believe I should make my way back now. I'm sorry about…"
"Relax," laughed Tyki, his hands over her thin shoulders as he pinned her back on to the bed like a butterfly. He then stood up and made his way towards the bedroom's balcony, climbed over it and sat on the baluster. "It is because the guestrooms are all taken up so I had no choice but to bring you in here to rest. I assumed your gown was too tight so you fainted but-"
Kaeda felt her eyes widening at each fading words of Lord Tyki Mikk, slowly she shifted her gaze down to her clothes when she realized that it was someone's sleeping gown. "What-"
Chuckling once again, Tyki whistled. "I had always known you were nicely trimmed, but this was even bet-"
"Lord Mikk," exhaled Kaeda as she breathed through each word like a dragon. Do fumes and smoke burn too? "This is overboard-"
"I said relax, dear," said Tyki. He began to swing his legs and stared into the night sky without once glancing back at the latter. "It's Tricia's dress, and as much as I would like to… I asked someone to change it for you. So please, just relax and get back to sleep or something. It certainly does not please me to have you yelling at me and making accusations of crimes I did not commit, or to have you travelling home at such an hour."
"I can't-" Kaeda paused when she realized that she did not know what to say. The two dangled in silence, none wishing or bothering to break the serene ambience. Sighing, Kaeda sat limply in the middle of the bed, her eyes trailing through the room as she tried to think up of something. She was at the heart of the crow's nest, getting closer. Since she had set her heart to it, she was to complete it no matter what. Clearing her head, Kaeda then began to scrutinize her surroundings, taking in what was present to her in vivid details.
His bedroom was like any other nobles, lavishly decorated and glamorously furnished. Thick carpets cushioned the floor, silk and satin covered his bed and his furniture were made from fine timber and well glossed. Yet there were little wooden items that dotted across this room. Taking a closer look, Kaeda realized that there were finely-carved sculptures. Eyes shifting back to the young man, she paused in surprise when she saw how the moon casted a soft glow on him, making his composure seem much more tender, vulnerable even.
"Lord Mikk, these sculptures," she muttered, surprised once more, this time by her own voice. "Were they made by you?"
Cocking one of his brows up a little as he turned around, Tyki gave a flat look to her. "Those wooden blocks? I bought them," he lied, sneaking a look at Kaeda who showed no particular expression, or so he thought, and he turned his back to her once again.
Kaeda nodded her head silently and diverted her attention away from him. Her eyes lingered a little on the sculptures before shifting out to the sky. His room was beautiful in a way, especially when the full night view could be seen from every angle of here. The sky was clear today despite the heavy shower in the morning. A cold breeze blew in from outside, caressing her face.
Just like he always did, she remembered, a small smile playing little on her lips, the corners of it curling up in sweetness.
She enjoyed this sort of night skies, clear yet dotted well with tiny twinkle of stars. She used to lean on a tree by her brother's side, spending the night together after their walk. Sometimes, they would stay up together to observe the sunrise, marveling how the rays would light up its whole path in just that brief second. Sometimes, she would urge for them to return so that her brother could get some sleep. He could refuse, every time, and sleep out in the open with her by his side. Kaeda would then observe the man slipping into slumber-land, his body moving rhythmically as it breathed, her fingers gently pressed against his cheeks as she stroked his smooth skin.
However, there was a time when they sat out there in the open field when they found themselves surrounded by what looked like fireworks that rained around them, ripping into the seam of the dark. Shooting stars, they both gushed, allowing themselves to be charmed and seduced by nature's wonder. Suddenly, Kaeda broke out of the spell and intertwined her fingers together. Head down, she prayed silently.
"What did you wish for?" asked her brother, a playful grin on his face. Laughing at his silly expression, Kaeda shook her head and denied ever praying.
Because shooting stars are not stars at all- they are just rocks that entered the Earth's atmosphere and catch fire under friction. As we crossed our fingers together and muttered silently, we are only speaking to a worthless trail of debris, rubbish others left behind.
Yet did you know that it was you I was wishing for? I wished that I would never have to forget you.
"Oi, Earth calling," complained an irritated voice that made Kaeda snap out immediately. Startled, she almost fell backwards off the bed if the man had not caught her in time. Pulling her back, he gave an expression that lacked the slightest hint of amusement. He had wanted to ask about her headaches but knew better than to do so. She would not say anything about it anyway, that stubborn girl, and it was driving him crazy. Tyki snapped his fingers in front of her eyes. "Dazing off?"
Kaeda looked upon the man, a bewildered expression etched clearly on her. Stuttering, she tried to recall when the young man had climbed into his bed and settled himself on it, with her still there, when he was more than five metres away when she last noticed him. "I- I… When did you come here…?"
"Every time you fall," muttered the Noah as he snuggled closer to her, closing his eyes aand placed his head on her laps. "And I've yet appease my anger."
Gasping, Kaeda's mouth opened before closing when no words could came out. The warmth and stable breathing from his head had indicated that he had fallen asleep. Alarmingly, Lord Mikk had managed to find an angle to lie on her thigh snuggly.
Just like how her brother would always fall asleep on her too.