CAGED BEAUTY

Why am I alive?

Such words resonated through your head.

「 Why? What's the point of all of this? The endless struggle with no light at it's end. Even hope forsaking you when all is said and done. No matter how much you fight back, something will always but ready to shove you back down. You felt so weak; so helpless. Even by your greatest of efforts to remain strong, it all amounts to nothing. 」

'Still there...that thing is still there.'

Azusa hovered above you. At first he was ecstatic with the precious time he was able to spend with you thus far. He already could tell that the two of you were perfect for one another. Both of you would be able to enjoy the pleasures of such sweet pain. Yet, as he looked down upon you, his princess, you exhibited a different variety of pain. That look in your eyes, it confused him. This sort of pain, it was a kind even he could not find pleasure in. His smile soon began to face as he took it all in. His eyes widened once he'd saw a single tear descend upon your cheek. Such foretold the arrival of several more tears. Each glided gracefully down your face, all together telling the unspoken tale of your anguish. This isn't right. This didn't feel right…

His grip loosened drastically. Slowly he leaned a bit away, his eyes never leaving you. After feeling him withdraw you opened your eyes. Only your gaze drifted over to meet his own. Whatever had come over him seemed to all but have faded away. His peculiar silver eyes shown that same sadness from before. Fists clenched, your whole body tensed as you awaited his next move. You weren't going to fall for his act so easily this time.

Nothing happened.

The silence began to slowly pain Azusa. Such pain, was within his heart. Without realizing, he placed his hand upon his chest. This thing had died long ago, so how could it hurt like this? His eyes seemed panicked. He didn't understand this feeling. It frightened him. Yes it hurts, but why? Why isn't this pain bring him any pleasure?

You watched his present action without a word. Despite the crushing feeling of the world crashing upon you, you felt the fire of determination rise again. Indeed you still held to some pity for him, but even so he hurt you. He proved to be an aggressor, so you need to fight back. If you were to die, you held to your resolve to go down claws bared. Fueled by pure desperation, you managed to pull yourself back up. You shoved Azusa off you, causing him to land with a thud. Now you're on top.

The last thing Azusa saw was the scarlet linen sheets. You'd grown so fed up with looking into his sad eyes that you pushed his face into the bed. He felt your weight pinning down his arms and legs, rendering him immobile. In a complete shift, Azusa smiled madly. How could he doubt you? He attempted to turn his head to look to you but you merely held him down even harder than before. You were holding him down with all the strength you could muster as he continued to try to move about. Cursing to yourself, you just wanted him to just quit. You couldn't keep this up much longer. Adding to your frustration, you could hear his crazed murmurs rise yet again.

...

"Why are you still here?"

That stern voice resounded directly near your bedside. You shot your head over to face him. Your captor stood there, arms folded. He eyed the both of you as you were. You couldn't help but shrink back within his gaze. It was hard to tell what he was thinking...

Azusa, despite you putting forth all your strength into holding him down, simply turned his head to get a look at whom was addressing them. He blinked a moment before looking away. You noticed him relax once he'd realized who it was. "Oh...Karlheinz…"

Karlheinz? You finally learned that bastard's name. After all this time, you finally had a name! But you had to wonder how this fledgling could know him so well to address him so plainly. Your thoughts came to a halt once you'd noticed Karlheinz's raised brow. He'd noticed you staring him down.

"Why do you look so puzzled child?" He spoke in a completely different tone than what you were accustomed to. Somehow it was far more condescending. "Do you not understand where your home is now?"

You looked away. He was going to force you to return to him wasn't he? At this point, you began to lose all care for your own life. You resolved to die as it's what you'd prefer to being thrown back into such trauma. Through clenched teeth you spoke, shaky in light of your present condition. "I refuse."

Karlheinz merely persisted with his quizzical gaze. He glanced towards Azusa whose eyes remained downcast. Looking at the two of you he narrowed his eyes before speaking again. "You seem to fare well with him. I see no reason for your cold denial."

"Well?" You shot back, fully prepared to throw your life away in that very moment.

"I was sure that bastard was going to rape me right then and there on that damned boat. You call that well?" Your arms began to shake with anger as you spat out your final words. It shook you, the whole ordeal remained fresh in your mind as you recalled the terror. For him to even suppose that anything about your time with him went well was revolting. You knew him to be a heartless tyrant, but enough was enough.

"He has done no such thing." Karlheinz spoke plainly.

He shot another look down towards the body below you before continuing.

"I believe you're referring to the wrong person."

You paused, staring him down for a good while. With a light sigh he merely waited for your sudden epiphany. Slowly your eyes followed his down to the one you held down. You shot him a quick look and he merely nodded. "Wait, is it...him?"

Karlheinz responded with a reassuring nod. "He saw you first, therefore you are his."

You held your mouth agape in shock. Him? It's really him? This twisted little fledgling was the one you were truly claimed by? You had beaten him several times in one night and your captor had hardly bat an eye. Those two must know each other pretty well you supposed for something like this to be permitted by him.

Without missing a beat Karlheinz spoke again. "Come now, you two best be off."

He extended his hand to you. In a daze you took hold, releasing Azusa from your grip. Slowly he was able to sit himself back up to face Karlheinz. He now remained a bit timid, far more tame than he was just moments before. A shy smile came upon his face as he stole a quick look in your present conversation caused a glimmer of hope to shine within those sad eyes. "Is she...really...mine?"

His only reply was yet another nod. Azusa shrunk away slightly as he attempted to hide his growing smile behind his sleeve. Looking to you still, his gaze warm and kind you heard him say softly;

"She's perfect…."

Diabolik Lovers, the setting nor characters belong to me. I'm simply crafting a story based upon such.

Nor do I own the title, I have MEJIBRAY to thank for that.