Chapter 35: A Long Time for Loneliness
Eiji's formula had worked well, and Shisuta was falling deeper in a state of comatose...
Kahn was working with Chihiro on finding a loophole in the demonic curse. Hiro was sitting in her room with Eiji.
"Hey... Umm..." Her face was red.
"Eiji? I'm not... I mean... You just seem so... Never mind."
He looked at her. "What is it?" He asked.
"Don't cut yourself off like that. I won't get mad at you for asking me something..."
She sighed. "Why do you even like me Eiji... You just seem so out of my league, you know...?"
He pulled her in, and kissed her.
"No, I don't know. I do know that you're scaring me... I have this feeling you're not saying something, and... I don't know."
He kissed her again.
"Don't just leave me like that. Especially to protect me. If you want to leave, do it because you want to, not because you feel like you have to... Unless... Unless you want to."
His eyes became teary. He shoved them back.
"Well, anyway... It's your choice."
He may have tried to hide his pain, but Hiro noticed it.
She was worried that he felt obligated to stay with her. He was just so amazing, that there was no way he'd ever want to be with her... She was wrong.
She kissed him.
"No..." She said tearfully.
"I just thought... Maybe you were too above me."
He looked down. "I could say the same for you."
Hiro gaped. "M-Me!? But how!?"
He looked at her. "How can you not see it? You're amazing... You're strong, kind, smart, and beautiful... Just gorgeous."
He gave her a gentle kiss.
Her heart was fluttering inside of her chest.
She kissed him back, and pulled him closer, brushing her lips against his ear...
He took in a breath, and pressed her against him, trailing kisses down her neck...
I'm in her room... We're on her bed...
Her hands running through my hair, down my back... It was driving me crazy...
I really wanted to. I mean, I REALLY wanted to...
No. It wasn't right.
"H-Hiro... Um... We shouldn't do this."
She stopped. Then sighed.
"You're right... I'm kind of nervous anyway."
He gave her a softer kiss.
"We can still do that if you want..."
She leaned in, and kissed him.
"Okay..." She whispered.
Hiro was okay with this. Just being with him like this made her really happy...
...She just hoped her dad didn't walk in.
They weren't going to do anything, but they were definitely breaking the six feet rule.
...
Karo was sitting beside Shisuta Kahn and Chihiro were getting more information on Sasageru, attempting to find a loophole via studying.
He stroked her hair, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"I love you..." He whispered tearfully.
He remembered the day that he told her he'd spend an eternity alone to be with her for the time they had... That time was running out, and Karo found himself drowning in sorrow. It wasn't enough, then again, would it ever be enough?
No. It would not.
Never enough of her smile, and that crazy obsession of Alchemy.
Never enough of her words and antics.
Never enough of her kiss at night, or the way she sleeps in the morning...
Never EVER enough of her...
I wish she could just stay... And I'd just hold her like I always do...
I wonder if this is how the humans feel when their loved ones pass on?
This uncertainty and unknown that seems so unique to this situation.
Watching her dying right in front of me. I have a new respect for Chihiro's world... Thew way they can move on from such things, with so many unknowns surrounding their every day lives.
What makes them so strong...?
To risk an eternity of loneliness, to be with someone for a short time... And to come out of it saying, it was worth it. I don't know if I'll ever be able to do that...
...
Hiro had fallen asleep. Her eyes were closed, and her expression was peaceful. It was late afternoon, and the sun was shining through her window, making everything feel warm.
Eiji sighed, and just soaked in her features...
She really was beautiful...
"Hey, little medium! Wake up, I have a job for you!"
Eiji jumped as he heard the voice.
She laughed. "So you can hear me? Well then you can help me too..."
Hiro sat up.
"Who are you!? I've never met you before."
"My name is Karin." She said pleasantly.
"I'm here to help."
Eiji didn't like her. Just the vibe he got from her voice sent shivers down his spine.
The worst part about spirits with Eiji, was that he couldn't see the sound, so he couldn't get a good location.
Just the sound of her voice was enough to set Eiji's guard up.
"Help with what?" He asked.
She laughed. "I can see you're wary of me, don't worry, I don't bite!"
"Answer the question." Said Hiro flatly.
"Well..." She said sweetly.
"There's this cave just northeast of here... Travel to the bottom of it, and you'll find the key to saving your friend Shisuta."
Eiji laughed bitterly. "You are a special kind of stupid. That cave has traces of cyanide floating in the air, no one goes in there. Do you think I'd blindy waltz into a cave, on your word anyway? No, I didn't trust you much to begin with. Now I know I don't trust at all."
Hiro shook her head. "Just go away. You're not fooling anyone!"
She laughed darkly. "Fine have it your way... And tell Karo that Karin says hi."
She went away.
"What was THAT all about?" Asked Hiro.
Eiji shook his head. "I don't know... But I think we should tell Karo about her. She seemed to know him well enough."
She stood. "Then let's go. I have a really bad feeling about her."
They walked over to where Karo was. He was still with Shisuta.
"Um Karo?" Hiro asked.
"Yeah...?" He said.
"Did you used to know someone named Karin?"
He stopped.
"Karin!? How to you know about her!? She's been dead for awhile, and I say good riddance..."
Eiji frowned. "Yeah she's bad news. Her spirit tried to lead us into a cave filled with cyanide, claiming we could help Shisuta."
Karo clenched his fists. "That wench... She'd never help Shisuta. She hated us both..."
Hiro nodded. "That makes sense, but why kill us?"
Karo sighed. "I have no clue... She can be pretty spiteful in general. No doubt she's up top, enjoying the glories she doesn't deserve."
He looked at Shisuta.
"I'd sacrifice that horrible woman's soul to save Shisuta in a heartbeat."
Eiji could understand that much. He had wondered again and again what he had done to have received such treatment from somewhere that was once his home.
Somewhere that was supposed to be a realm of justice, plagued with tyranny.
Eiji stopped.
"Wait... The dreams. I think that might play into why she wants us dead, why Shinjitsu wants is alive, and why the heavens tried to erase me..."
Hiro looked at him. "Well what do you think it is!?" She exclaimed.
Eiji sighed. "It's a hunch, but it's one worth checking. I think we're having dreams about the nine trials, and defeating them. The dreamstone... I think that's how you obtain it. Not by sieging the main fortress, but sieging these dreams... If that makes any sense."
Karo nodded. "Actually it makes perfect sense. We should scope the nine trials again, and see which ones are still active. If more have shut down? Then you're probably right."
They nodded. "Right."
It was about time they'd gotten some clarity on the dreams... Time to start taking this ordeal more seriously.