01
The rain had finally begun to fall as the streets started to become enveloped in a substance one would call mud. The mud thick and sticky texture could usually be described as just a mild annoyance. But for some reason on this night the mud had become more of a problem than most people viewed it as such. People could be seen gathering their things and running back inside the safety of their well built homes. Occasionally some people wearing rain suits were seen shoveling away at the mud as the rain grew heavy while also a great amount of wind blew the leaves from the trees side to side. If one were to say, they would describe it as if the gods had decided to curse the lands with a great storm.
The gray sky hadn't had a single cloud in its atmosphere, or maybe the entire sky was just one giant cloud that decided it was time to let out some rain, whatever it was it all came without warning. The reason for the sudden storm was something the people couldn't figure out and worry soon fell on most people's faces as panic to get inside became contagious like a great sickness had waved across the lands. But even with this mini pandemic, for some reason, for some dumb reason, a boy who had looked like he was just on the verge of giving up and falling off a steep mountain had walked down the street ignoring the commotion and the calls of people telling him it was dangerous to be out at the moment.
He simply ignored their calls, causing the people to show a confused look and maybe a concerned one as well. But with the upcoming sudden storm most people just came to the conclusion that he was an idiot and closed off their homes from the outside not wanting to get drench in rain and mud. It wasn't like he didn't acknowledge their efforts, he had noticed their plea's calling out to him, yet at that moment he didn't care about any of it. Whether the world ended or he was sent into some far off land he wouldn't care.
The boy continued his walk until he had stumbled upon a blue haired girl who looked to be around 12 years old and held a worried look on her face. She was quickly pulling clothes off a laundry line and quickly running back inside. The boy could feel his heart break, like someone had grabbed it and squeezed it until it popped.
At that very moment he had given up.
That unforgettable memory filled his mind.
The vivid image of the blue haired girl slapping him and cursing him. And then the image of his fellow allies that he had once called his friend saying that (Wasn't that going a little far? Maybe you should step out for a bit.)
Now that he was outside he soon realized the rain didn't feel as lonely as he thought it would.
The boy who had Supaku eyes and black haired lifted his head as his hair fell just enough to cover his eyes. The red mark on his cheek was clearly still there.
(How could that have been my fault?) He thought. A sense of anger filled his heart.
He clenched his fist.
Why did he have to be put out, it wasn't him who had caused that scene. The blue haired girl named Rem had decided it would be best if she slapped him and ran out of the room with tears in her eyes.
Was it really his fault for telling her the truth ? Did that make Subaru a bad guy ?
(That girl's a sin archbishop and… )
Was it wrong for him to tell her that the blonde haired girl they had kept with them was the same one responsible for her memory loss, or for the death of many people. Prior to telling her the others had agreed, so what were they mad about ?
(Tch- could it be because I said I didn't like her anymore ?)
A strange thought that should've never crossed his mind became a lingering annoyance.
(If so then thats fucking nuts! I did everything I could for them and all I get is the cold shoulder. Fuck even Rem didn't like me when first met so what changed now… For Emilia to make such a face I must be disgusting.)
Whether it was tears or the rain Subaru wouldn't know. He was known for crying in many deaths or when things got hard all while holding his fist to the air and declaring that he would save or fix whatever had happened but…
This time that feeling had never come.
He was truly lost.
As he was staring into the gray sky he looked back down towards where the blue haired girl had been but she had disappeared somewhere into her little home. Subaru then began to walk once more, where he was going even he didn't know.
His walk had a sad appearance to it like an injured animal who was on its last leg and would soon die, but in Natsuki Subaru's case it was his heart that was damaged and that it'll never heal no matter what he did. It wasn't like he was kicked out, he could've gone back at any time he wanted, but for some reason he didn't want to go back. He didn't want to embarrass Emilia any more.
Yet this was a lie he told himself.
He would've never admitted it outloud or in his mind but he just didn't want to see her face. What would she say if he came back now ? What would happen to their relationship ? It can't be possible for a few words to ruin a relationship, right ? If he did then he would lose all motivation to live. If after countless deaths the one who he suffered for the most didn't want to even see his face, it would bring despair.
Subaru hands dug into his face as he was covering it. He was covered in mud but he didn't care. He sat on a bench. His butt had gotten wet but the feeling of discomfort wasn't as bad as the memories in his head.
"Mom… Dad… I think I might have fucked it all over once again… Ha ha… I'm really a failure. "
Subaru felt as if a light had fell into his hands. The area around him had appeared to slow down. If he had told someone he would swear he could see each and every raindrop fall and accurately describe them.
And then…
Then…
"...What is it you want ? "
"-Hello Sin archbishop of vainglory, I didn't think you would notice me when you're sulking like that. Did something bad happen ?"
"It's not hard when time looks as if it's slowed down, and also when did I become a sin, and when did I become one under you ? Last time I checked the cult is almost wiped out. "
A short platinum haired girl appeared behind the bench, just behind Subaru. She hadn't had any hostility towards Subaru and even wrapped her arms around his neck embracing him, yet Subaru didn't feel any hint of emotion whilst his hands covered his face as if he was just fired from his job of 30 years.
It was quiet.
He knew what she wanted and this time he felt something tug at his heart.
"... Hey- hey, isn't it time for you to join me. To me it appears that you've lost everything… Am I right ?"
"What would you know ?"
Subaru felt a pain grow in his chest. Maybe he shouldn't have asked this question. The girl behind him came closer to his ear and whispered just enough so that the world couldn't hear, or so that person couldn't hear.
"... I know a lot, I know you came from another world, I know the names of your mother and father, I know you fell in love with a half elf girl, and then fell for a blue haired oni, I know you fell out of love with that oni and it costed you everything. "
"- I"
"I know of your broken heart, I know of your kind nature, I know of your inability to make friends, I know of your repeated deaths, I know of all your journeys, I know of your love for mayo, I know of the times you engage in perverted acts- "
"-OK! I get it!"
For a moment silence fell and the sound of rain could be heard. The rain drench the two, making their clothes wet from the rain. And for the girl her clothes were basically see through, not that Subaru would know since he was looking ahead instead of behind.
After a while Subaru decided to break the silence. Subaru had known the girl for a while and for some reason if he needed silence she would become quiet and stare into the void with him.
He hated it.
He hated her.
But…
Something just felt off.
He knew she was just trying to manipulate him and he knew she was a devil with no real emotion, but for some reason, for some odd reason, he felt comfortable. But that wouldn't be all it needed to win him over.
"Why do you need me anyways ? If it's my ability you want then can't you just kill me when necessary. Or is it because of my memory that's preventing you from doing that. I don't have some strong ability like Regulus, or insanity like Petelguese, or even manpower like the gluttoney's. I'm not smart like Stride, or as powerful as Sirius. I don't have influence like Capella, so what do you want ? "
"Like I said, I want you to be the archbishop of vainglory. "
"And why is that ? Pandora!"
Pandora took her arms off Subaru. He still didn't want to believe, he was sure he couldn't trust again. If this girl had said something even remotely a bit off he would cut her off and forget about her forever.
He had closed his eyes, his hands balled into a fist over his lap. Huh why was he so afraid right now. He could practically feel his heart beating, what was he afraid of ?
(This is a witch, I can't feel scared now!)
Was it possible he didn't want to be rejected by her ? No, that couldn't be true. She was the ultimate evil and he was the ultimate good, right ?
He could feel the blood rush to his head. He pumped himself up telling himself that he was ready for anything and nothing could hurt him anymore.
He opened his eyes ready for what was to come, but…
"AH! Why are you so close ?"
Before he could move his head away from Pandora who had only been mere inches away from his face to where their lips were almost touching, Pandora grabbed his face with both of her hands. Their clothes were drenched in rain that they were practically see through. In a world filled with darkness she looked majestic, like she was the only light. Her clothes may have been wet but she was not covered in mud as if the mud didn't want to dirty a goddess.
Her hands felt soft on his cheek, were they closer to clouds, or to a soft warm pillow back in Japan, he didn't know, only staring at her lavish blue eyes. Subaru could tell that she knew what she was doing, her beauty was damn near a weapon in itself.
When she spoke Subaru could feel her soft breath up against his cheek.
"... What I need is you. Subaru listen, I harbor no malice against you, or no ill intent behind my words. I simply and honestly just want you by my side…"
She was serious.
Subaru had never seen such an expression on her face that he seriously started to doubt whether it was genuine or not. Well of course it wasn't genuine she was a witch afterall, she killed many people and even ran a cult of deranged individuals who killed a lot of innocent people.
She couldn't have been telling the truth, it would go against everything that she had been doing, everything that she had built up. And so Subaru couldn't fall for this trick the outcome wouldn't be pleasant.
But…
If on the off chance that she was serious, could he really pass up on the chance ? He had nothing, everything he had built was quickly destroyed by a couple of words that were only met to tell the truth. Subaru silently touched the red mark on his cheek, the pain was still quite there.
His hair still fell over his eyes so the expression he had was quite weird, but Pandora didn't judge him, she wouldn't judge him. And so…
"P-Pandora, how can I know you're serious ? How do I know if you're not lying just to trick me ?
He could see her smile but he didn't react. He continued to hold his fist in his lap and sat in silence for her answer. If her answer didn't align with the one he held in his heart then he would surely decide to walk away.
He would forget her and forget the others. He would leave and roam, until his legs couldn't move any longer.
"Then…"
"Then…?"
What did she mean ?
(Oh, I see.)
Before he could process in his mind what she had meant. He felt her soft angelic lips make contact with his own. It was a kiss, and a kiss he would never forget. It wasn't the same as the time he kissed Emilia, this one was by far better. Subaru closed his eyes and let her in.
Pandora's arms wrapped around his neck in a way to prevent him from escaping. Whether his cheeks were red from the slap, sickness from the rain, or genuine embarrassment, he would most likely never know.
This isn't proof of anything. This kiss could just be used to manipulate his feelings even more, and cause him to waver to the other side, her side. He could very much be subjected to torture and being mindbroken by the manipulative girl infront of him and regret his choice later on, but…
Even if all this proved to be fake and he woke up to be in a never ending nightmare, just this once… Just this once he will become the fallen angel instead. He was sick of saving someone, maybe it'll be better if he was the one saved for once.
02
Somewhere in the city the rain had stopped and the clouds had cleared. A boy who looked to have been covered head to toe in mud rain into a building tracking his mudded paws across the carpet. He looked panic but also had a tear in his eye that was unnatural for him to have, to onlookers he was just a pest, but to familiar faces this was not natural.
"Garfiel whats wrong ?" The silver haired elf girl said with a tilt in her head.
"...Its cap, uhhh Subaru! He's uhhh, he's missing or something, He's been kidnapped!"
The room all had a look of shock, but the one who looked the most panicked was the blue haired oni girl who prior to him leaving had a conflict with him that surely broke her heart.
"What do you mean he's gone ?"
"Ah Rem, I'm sorry I tried my best looking for him !"
"Well look harder mutt. Ram couldn't forgive herself unless she's given him a proper beating for what he said to Rem. "
Among all the chatter a single clown was watching amongst them.
"Pandora-sama, I gave you Subaru-kun so in exchange please bring me my teacher." Those were the words that dwelled in his mind.
A smile appeared on his face.
"It appears her plan really worked out in the end. I wonder just how much she's willing to go for that boy. Sorry Subaru but it'll appear our time together is over. Hopefully Pandora treats you well."
Those were the last words before he closed his eyes. Now it was a matter of time before he was reunited with his beloved.
