Prelude: Sorry (Part 3)

o.o.o.o.o.o

Yuri's P.O.V

I felt a tear form at the edge of my left eye. My sight was getting blurry again. I felt tired.

So very tired.

But these people around me didn't let me rest. They shouted like mad old opera performers, screeching my ears. Especially Wolfram. Honto ni… Why were you always shouting?! Even if I have to die, can't you let me die in peace?!

Wait. What the hell am I thinking?! I can't die now. I shouldn't be thinking like that! If Mother knew what I thought, she would be saying…

Scene cut. Flashback. (Miko-san background music)

"You know, Yuu-chan, you must never speak of death lightly! Death is a very serious thing! If you don't take it seriously, you might die like that poor kitty I saw on the road the other day!''

She waved her right index as she said that.

''And think about all the things you will be missing! That curry I made for you and Ken-chan for instance… or that movie staring that Ken Matsudaira baldie…or your wedding with Wolf-chan."

She blushed as she said that last sentenced, palms on her cheeks.

" Oh my… Oh my! I shouldn't be saying that now, should I? Eto… Anyway, Yuu-chan, just listen and do what Mama said!''

End of Flashback. Sigh.

A feeling of defeat overwhelmed me as I remembered her words of moral. I didn't like the idea, but I had to admit you were right, Mother.

And if you heard me calling you that, you would be saying: It's Mama, Yuu-chan!

I grinned as I thought about it, but it quickly vanished as I realized that the maryoku light surrounding my body had weakened a lot. I didn't seem to get any better. Gisela eyes were also starting to get cloudy. I thought I heard the enemy's general shouting retreat frenetically for a while now. I envied him to be able to shout. I wanted to tell everyone something personally, but my voice was dry.

Did I sound like a dead man just now? Eto… no one can answer me anyway, and I didn't wanted to know the answer either. Tonikaku… what would I want to say to everyone anyway?

Let's see… to Greta… If I could speak to you, Greta, I will be telling you to live happily, to not stop searching for your destined glove… euh… soul mate… Oh! And to prone love and peace. Place a flower or two on my tomb every year too. A Conrad Stand Upon the Earth or a Beautiful Wolfram from Cherri-san's garden would be good.

To Wolfram… euh… what would I say… Umm… Well, first, GOMENASAI! I really didn't want to leave you guys… *you'll blame me for leaving you before our wedding, I think* And, seriously, I am not a whimp! And I was never unfaithful to you, I swear. If you weren't a bishounen, I would have punched you instead of slapping you in the beginning. Anyway, thank you for being by my side all this time. And please live and try to find happiness.

To Gwendal… euh... well, thanks for taking care of my office duties and you know, protecting me and everyone… I guess I can only wish for you to stay healthy… and maybe you should stop frowning so much… I guess I'll leave Wolfram and Gunter to you! Make sure they don't try to suicide!

Especially not Gunter. I don't want his never-ending speeches of worries to follow me in the world of the dead.

As for Conrad… thank you for protecting me for so long. In fact, I felt guilty of not taking care of myself enough and always end up having you, Wolfram and Yozak save me… But I know that you understood why I always did those things. So, when I will be gone, please continue protecting everyone, like you did for everyone. And please don't cry. I want you to live and find happiness like everyone. Oh… and maybe you should take back Julia's necklace… It's the only memento you have of her, no? If you don't want to keep it, then give it to Adelbert. And if he doesn't want it then… you choose what to do with it.

My mind was feeling exhausted. I had words for almost everyone. Sara, for example, to whom I wanted to wish happiness and ask forgiveness for leaving him when we had not yet fulfilled our promise of achieving peace. Cherri-san, wishing her the best of luck with her quest for love. Dorcas, for taking care of Aoi. Anissina-san, telling her to not blow up BloodPledgeCastle. Gisela, Flurin-san, Leila, Antoine, Huber-san, Nicola, Gunter, Yozak, Ulrike, Shinou… everyone I knew…

And of course,

Murata.

I am very sorry for dying like this, even though you warned me so many times to be careful. But for the moment, let me tell you that I was very happy that you were both the Daikenja and my friend… though seriously, you sometime said things that only old geezer's would say. Anyway, thanks for being the baseball club's manager. And for supporting me in all our adventures. We really had fun together now, didn't we?

Some people around me suddenly gasped. Gisela was shouting at me desperately. Flows of tears and rain were dripping of Greta's cheeks. Wolfram and Conrad held both my hands very tightly, as rain started to pour more heavily onto us. Even with Conrad's coat, I felt quite cold. There were but only a lingering sense of warmth at the tip of my fingers.

The dryness in my voice suddenly disappeared. I reacted quickly and, taking what remained of my life force, I said my final words:

"Everyone. Live. Be happy."

And I smiled as I said that. I wanted their last memory of me to be a smiling one.

"Ah… there are still stuffs I wanted to do…" I thought. "At least I did a good job as the Maou…."

The light surrounding my body became a nearly transparent foggy pale blue.

I felt my eyelids closing slowly. Everything seemed so silent. And I knew what was to come…

"I'll leave the rest to you… Murata"

I closed my eyes.

The light was no more.