Chapter 3: Fallen Angel

"Yukina? May I come in?" a voice called out from Yukina's bedroom door.

"Ah, come in!"

The door opened and there is Rin with a tray of food.

"Hello, Riliane!" Yukina greeted cheerfully, but then covered her mouth in shock. She said it. She said "Rin's" true name.

Riliane paused, but then proceeded to give Yukina her breakfast.

"So…you know who I really am."

"Y, Yeah. Clarith told me everything about you."

"I see…"

"I, I'm sorry! I didn't think…!"

"It's alright…" Riliane is just about to leave.

"Eh? W, Wait a minute!" Yukina called out, "I, I want to talk to you!"

Riliane looked at Yukina, "What's there to talk about? You know what I did. How I killed all those people…"

"But what you did is not your fault!" Yukina pleaded.

"Really now? You're starting to sound like Germaine…"

"Please, can I talk with you? I promise you it'll be worth it! Please?"

Riliane gave up. She walked over to Yukina and pulled up a chair.

"Thank you!" Yukina let out a sigh of relief, "Wow, I never thought that I would meet the Daughter of Evil herself!"

"…Is that what everybody calls me?"

"Ah…" Yukina should stop being all cheerful. She realized that Riliane is not comfortable at all. In fact, it looks like Riliane is too depressed to chat.

Riliane sighed, "…No matter. I guess it is a name that suits me."

"W, well, not for long because I know the truth now! Will you listen to me?"

Riliane sat there for a while…and gave a slight nod.

Yukina then proceeded to talk to about what she had discovered during her trip to Beelzenia, how she met with Gumillia and Germaine, and how Kyle Marlon is actually manipulated by Prim. Riliane is skeptical, but after hearing the whole story and looking over Yukina's notebook, she is overwhelmed.

"I have to say, Yukina. I am surprised that you learned so much," Riliane gave off a slight smile that Yukina can barely make out, "I congratulate you."

Yukina felt flattered, "G, Gee, thanks! Now that I learned this much, I can now start fulfilling my promise to Allen!"

"…Allen? You know him?"

"Oh uh…" Yukina caught her breath, "How should I put this…I uh, saw Allen last night…"

"You too?"

"Yes. I…wait, what do you mean 'you too'?"

"Germaine said the same thing…"

"Oh…" Yukina nodded, "Well, Allen did call out to me. He told me that…I must live in order for me to tell everyone the truth."

"I…see."

"But I would really like it if you could tell me everything from your perspective! It will really help…"

Riliane fell silent. Recalling the past will awaken unpleasant memories within her, memories in which she wanted to forget. Also, if the truth does become widespread, what will happen to Riliane? People will know that Riliane is still alive. She could imagine herself being killed by the people who continued to despise her. But if what Yukina had said is true, then what? Riliane felt more afraid.

But Allen did appear. Yukina said that Allen talked with her. Allen wants the truth to be heard. If Riliane could help grant Allen's wish, then…

Riliane looked at Yukina with determination, "…Very well. You can ask me anything you want and I'll try my best to answer."

"…Really?" Yukina beamed with excitement, "Thank you Riliane! Thank you so much!"

Riliane couldn't help but give off a soft smile at the plucky girl in front of her. It seems that nothing on earth could ever faze Yukina…except for last night. Riliane envied her.

"What would you like to know?"

Yukina thought and thought, "Hmm…oh! I want to know why you forgot that Allen is your brother."

Riliane froze, "I…I don't remember. I'm sorry, I don't remember."

"Really? Surely there must be something!"

Riliane continued to think, "…Wait. I do know that Elluka Clockworker said something about…driving a demon out…"

"A demon?" Yukina shivered. Yukina already had an experience with a demon. When Yukina visited Lucifenia while it is still under Marlon's control, Kyle was possessed by a "Demon of Vanity" or so Gumillia claims. Because of this, Kyle turned into a monster. Could something like that happen to Riliane too? Yukina felt worried. Maybe she should ask Elluka if she ever had the chance to meet her again.

Riliane went on, "As far as I can tell, I don't think I turned into a…beast like what you described early on…"

"Oh. Okay. That is a relief…Next, I want to ask you about…"

Riliane continued to talk on and on, about how Leonhart is assassinated, how the "Green Hunting" started, Allen's sacrifice to save Riliane, and about useless things like how Chartette broke the water fountain and her favorite horse Josephine. Riliane would at times start to choke up at the most horrible parts of her story but after seeing Yukina with an earnest smile, Riliane's heartaches are slowly washed away. After an hour, Yukina stopped her questions.

"Thank you so much, Riliane."

"You're welcome, Yukina, though I must ask you that you do not use my name. Please keep it hidden."

Yukina did feel slightly disappointed but she understood, "I promise, Riliane…I mean, Rin. But you know? 'Riliane' is a nice name."

Riliane stared…then she grinned, "…And 'Yukina' is a cute name as well."

"Really? Ehehe!" Yukina giggled, all while knowing that her family does have unique names that are unheard of.

Then there was another knocking at the door.

"Yukina?" Clarith's voice called out, "Your father is here."

Yukina flinched. Before she could say anything, the door opened and there, standing before her, is Keel.

"Yukina!" Keel cried as he rushed forward and hugged his daughter, "Oh Yukina, I was so worried!"

"D, Daddy! I, I…!" Yukina stammered. She is afraid. Yukina had snuck away from her family to find Mikina all alone without Keel's permission again. But early on, Keel was suddenly attacked by an unknown assailant, though Yukina now suspects that it might have been Abyss I.R. who attacked him. Plus, Mikina had went missing afterwards, thus Yukina had to find Mikina, alone if she had to.

"It's alright, Yukina." Keel reassured, "Clarith told me everything."

"But, what about you? Are you okay?"

"It was only a blunt trauma. I'm feeling okay now."

Riliane felt left out but she didn't want to intrude in a private family moment. She got up silently and is just about to head for the door…

"W, Wait a moment!" Keel stopped Riliane, "Are you Rin?"

Riliane turned to Keel, "I am."

"I've heard much about you from Clarith. Is it true? You helped save my daughter?"

"I…I didn't help much…"

"But you did help me!" Yukina interrupted gleefully, "You're my hero!"

Riliane winced and walked away. Keel looked on with wonder while Yukina just smiled.

"Don't worry, daddy. She may deny it, but…I know she is."