Alternate Revelation - Chapter 6: He Is My Servant, Alone
THIS CAME OUT SO AWESOME. I DIED MYSELF WHILE WRITING IT! SO GLAD I GOT THIS UP!
Key: I put a few sound effects from the manga, so if you need to, just scroll on up and read what the heck's happening! c:
*Zawa-Used in the manga to describe the feeling of a pr essence.
*Paan... - Used in the manga to describe a gunshot sound.
*BAN!- Also used in the manga; basically the English sound 'bang'.
*(1) - To be read in the voice of a kicked puppy.
Review Response Time!
To One of No Importance: First off, your screen name is a dirty liar- because I value what you have to say! I'm very over-joyed to hear that you like my story! And you have been added to my list of people who I've converted to Yaoism. You are not the first lol. Here you go, *hands you an "I'm an Oblivious Boy" stick*.
To BloodyAmarillo: Look! I'm updating! lol I know, I apologize for the last chapter. I didn't intend to cut it that short so there should have been more action in it. I plan to go back and edit that silly thing. And your patience is greatly appreciated! c:
To LittleSara: Hello, Luv! Thank you for reviewing again! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come off like I took your critique the wrong way! I'm always up for helpful criticism. I'm glad the honorifics came off the way I intended them, too, not just to me. lol And don't worry, your English is fine! I was a little worried about putting so much of the manga in and I think I've decided to go back and edit it, but I'm going to keep some of the really important quotes to still skim along the top at least. Oh! Before I forget, *hands you an "I'm an Oblivious Boy" stick*.
To KrissyKunn: FFFF I KNOOOWWW ;A;! I hate myself for using so much of the dialogue, but I didn't know how else to keep it to the scene! I'm going to edit it after I upload this chapter, I promise! *Hides under rock of shame* It appears that I'm only skilled in writing original work that is OOC...;; That's okay, though. I do write for myself, and I completely forgot that. I always adore happy fans, but I must remember my sappy intentions! I already have an idea on how to fix it, but it won't be the same as the original scene, sooo... we'll see how it goes! lol AND OMIGOSHI just read chapter 56! I KNEW HE COULDN'T BE DEAD! I verbally squealed when I read Break ask him why he was still alive, and then squealed even louder when he said he was glad he lived~ March Hare ftw! I do the same with my friend; we bounce ideas off each other, fangirl for about 15 seconds verbally, then I usually already have a story written in my head. Thank you for writing to me again!
To Suimomo: Thank you for waiting and understanding! I'm always really hard on myself whenever I don't update on time, so hearing that other people forgive my world for its stupidity is nice. lol But now you don't have to wait for the next chapter! lol!
Some minutes passed and Alice finally woke up. I heard her mumble, "...Gil?"
I turned to her and tried to smile, "Sorry, did I wake you?"
"Is Gil the one..." she started.
"He was at the party~"
"So is he... the boy you cut down?" I felt my heart stop. I looked at her for a long time, speechless. My chest and eyes hurt, felt tight. "Y-...yeah... that's him."
I averted my eyes. If any pain was on my face, I didn't want anyone seeing. I hurt him so badly, I don't even know for sure if he lived. I couldn't help him since I was thrown into the Abyss, either... I wonder if he'd look the same as he did before I... I gulped, hurt him. I thought back to when we first met, when my Uncle Oscar brought him to me. He looked so frail and scared, frightened of something unknown. Even then, he couldn't remember anything but his name. He had that adorable look on his face, too...
'So you'll do whatever I say, right?'
'Yes...'
'If you don't, I'll punish you!'
'Yes...'
'Oh, and... will you eat my vegetables for me? I hate them!'
'...Yes.'
I smiled sadly at the precious memory.
'There! It's official! You're my valet now!'
That day...
Gilbert officially became mine.
*Zawa-
A horrible chill ran down my spine. I looked up and so did Alice.
*Paan...
"A gunshot..." Alice whispered. "Is Raven-!" I couldn't finish the sentence because I was cut off by the sound of another bang. My heart lurched against my rib cage; something was wrong- very wrong. And Raven... he was in trouble. Alice followed me without hesitation as I darted towards the direction I'd seen Raven leave in. My mind was racing blank, I could do nothing but run, I needed to run. I felt frantic as I approached the door. From the otherside and through the building's broken windows, I heard a woman's voice. I reach for the door's handle,
"... You still can't forgive me..." Who is that speaking? "...for..." so similar to that voice, "... using your body... to hurt your master at his coming-of-age ceremony, can you?"
...H...huh?
"Even though it's been ten years..." T...ten? What? "... since Oz disappeared into the Abyss!"
(1)Wh...whaaa-?
*BAN!
I watched vaguely as Alice kicked the door open, completely frozen in place. Just what the hell was going on? I see a black figure in the middle of the room... is that... Raven?
"NO- GET OUT!" I hear him scream. W-wait! What is that?
"Oh, good..." That horrific creature, "... our guest of honor has arrived~!" Are those... strings?
I see Raven's arms get yanked back and above him and he crashes down to his knees. "Ugh-!"
"RA-" I reach out, but Alice stands in front of me.
"STAY BACK, OZ!" But Raven! He's-!
"Hello, Oz Vessalius! I'm so glad you could join my little reunion I'm having here!" Reunion? What is this girl on about?
"I came here today," what an awful, wicked grin, "because, well," she chuckles, "you see..." Her smile frightens me. I wanted to run so badly from the very spot I was frozen to, but there was no way I could ever prepare myself for what she said next;
"I heard that you had come back from the Abyss! After ten long years!"
T-ten... ten year- I felt my breathing stop completely. An entire decade has passed? But... Sharon... and Break- they haven't-! And this girl, too, she hasn't-
"So without further ado..." Wait, then... that means...
"Our stars today are none other than Oz Vessalius... "
... then that means-!
"... and his one and only valet, Gilbert Nightray!"
G-..gilbert? He's... "That's... Gilbert?" I tried to look into his eyes, see if any sense would make itself if I could just see him, but he turned his head away.
"Funny thing about the Abyss," the girl hissed out, "it does really screwy things with time. In fact, you'll probably never get back to your own time! So let me do you a little favor..." she's walking over to him... no, get away from him!
"... and put you back where you belong!" Why is she touching him? Her hands... his hair... his neck... his face...! I can't-
"Get away from him!" I demanded. She's whispering something into his ear... and he's not even trying to get away! My heart was pounding. The sight raised the hairs on my neck; it made my blood boil.
"This isn't good, Oz!" I heard Alice's warning, but I almost didn't register it. I watched as Raven stood up with a terrible grin streching his lips, just like the girl. Why is he-?
"If Raven's being controlled, I can't use my powers!" I felt something hard hit my head.
"OZ!" Alice tried to help me, but she disappeared from my vision as I was thrown to the floor.
Raven... is Gilbert? Raven does remind me of Gil a lot... but... but he, and the mansion... Have ten years really passed without me knowing it? I can't possibly be expected... to believe...
"Ugh-!" I feel a warm hand close around my neck, holding me down to the floor.
"Let me show you... what pain you... you made me suffer!"
"Nnh- w-wait! Let... Just let me...!" One thing would prove to me, would make my believe, "...see!" I reached up, clawing at the white fabric beneath his coat and, in one swift movement, I ripped his shirt open.
I found what I was looking for.
Raven smiled wickedly. "What's wrong... doesn't it take you back?"
My greatest regret, my worst sorrow, was pulsing numbly across his chest. Pale, swollen, scarred diagonally. Aged and healed distortedly over time- the ten years that I had apparently been gone. I looked hard, examining every single inch of the wound. My hands began to tremble, I gritted my teeth to keep myself from screaming. He looked down at me with knowing.
"Th-.. this scar...!" 'Young Master-!' The memory flashed through my mind, Gil's pleading voice. Gilbert's blood was everywhere... he wouldn't move... he wouldn't-!
My arms felt weak, but I tightened my fingers in an attempt to keep him from disappearing. I didn't flinch when I felt the cold, hard metal jab my chest.
My heart swelled with pain and joy as I realized I'd finally found him; my best friend. My servant. My Gilbert.
(2)"Gil...?" I whispered. The last few days flashed through my mind's eye. The moment I awoke from my nightmare, to the night he checked on me, out on the balcony, the kitchen... all of the places where he most seemed like Gil to me. It seemed so stupidly obvious to me now that I knew the truth. He had been with me the whole time!
"Oh my god... you really are Gil... aren't you?" I reached my hands up slowly, desperately needing to make this real to me. My fingers traced up along his jaw, his pale skin soft the way I remember; the dark, messy locks of hair twisted around my fingers, just like I know. I looked deep into his eyes, wide and gold staring in what looked like pained disbelief. But behind those mature emotions, I saw the 'unknowing' fear of the boy I fell in love with.
"You're... alive!" I smiled, forcing the tears back. The lump in my throat disappeared, tight now with relief. "I'm so glad... that you're okay..."
He stared down at me with those same eyes.
"Gil," I smiled sadly, "remember that promise you made to me? And how I said I didn't believe you?" He remained silent. "I... I want to believe in your promise... to me. To believe that you'd always be by my side... but..." I slid my fingers from down from his head and gently caressed down his right arm, the one holding the gun, "it seems... that your promise will become a lie, because of me." I heard his breathing stop as I laced my fingers around his hands, holding them tight. It had been a long time since I last did, right? I smiled, looking deep into his eyes again, terrific disbelief still present.
"I... I can't... bear to see that happen..." I heard the audible click of the gun setting the barrel, and the sound of his gasp, "I would rather die here than see that very instant."
Terror washed over his face as I said my final words. His hand began to shake violently and I held him tighter. I heard him whisper, strained, "N-no...!"
*PAAN.
The gun powder rose in light curls between us. I smiled and reached up to place my left hand against his neck.
Gilbert...!
He was taking hard, gasping breaths. I sat up slightly and leaned over his head, glaring at the girl who had controlled him. My fingers wrapped possessively around his neck.
A snarl ripped from my throat. How dare she use my servant. How dare she touch him.
"You... you tore off..." she reached up to her now bleeding shoulder, "...Duldum's strings?" She hissed and jumped onto the window from one story up, grinning angrily. "Let's save the next act for another day, shall we? After we clean the script up a bit!" I rose from the floor to try to chase after her, but stopped in my tracks as I realized I wouldn't be able to keep up with her speed.
"Until next time... Oz Vessalius!" and with that, she disappeared.
I looked after her angrily, then sighed and slumped to the ground, dizzy from the mind-blowing ordeal I just experienced.
"I can't sense her anymore, she's gone now." Alice spoke quietly.
"Good... Are you okay, Alice? You aren't injured at all, are-"
"WH-WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" Gilbert's voice was loud, angry. I looked at him, shocked at his outburst. "DID YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO DIE BACK THERE?"
"O-of course not..."
"Then why-! What if I hadn't- If I hadn't been able to stop myself, I would have-!" My heart panged at how close his voice was to cracking.
"I knew... that you wouldn't have. And..." I stepped closer, "even if you did, I was willing to take the punishment. If you are truly Gil," I smiled, "you absolutely would have stopped yourself."
He sighed and leaned against the door behind him. "I'm... I'm not the same... anymore..." He was holding his right arm. How badly was he injured?
"Didn't you hear her? My name is Gilbert Nightray... You remember, don't you? I'm now a member... of the antagonists to your family!" I looked at him, waiting for him to finish.
"Don't... don't treat me with such kindness like you use to... I don't... deserve it!" He ran through the door and into the hallway.
My heart skipped a beat in fear as he ran away from me.
"Oz, go get Raven! I'll try to find that stupid clown!" I stared at her a moment, then nodded. My feet felt like lead as I ran after him but the drive of power I suddenly felt compelled me to move. I almost fell to my face as I tripped over myself and ran after him.
"Gilbert, wait! Come back!" He got damned fast at running. I can't see him anymore, I don't know where he could've gone! Why would he run from me? Does he actually think that him being a Nightray matters?
I stopped in the middle of the open hallway and looked around. The sun was shining through the trees and there was a warm breeze coming from my left. I looked over and saw a gigantic hole in the ground.
"Is that...the grave?" I got a feeling I was heading in the right direction.
If you thought that was fluffy and out of character, oh boy, wait until the next chapter. c: OOC is my deal.