Time of Woe Kanon58

Summary: Maura returns every year at Nekome-cho to mourn on Leon's death. Suddenly a mysterious box in Leon's room transported Maura to the past of 3 years ago. Regrets to fix, will Maura survive once more the threat Tree of Woe not to devour him?! A HiroxMauraxLucia fanfic!

Notes: I'm running out of english...well...uhh hope its interesting still. Suicide mentions, dont read if you are easily stress by those kind of ploooots. Thats all for now!

Before you get angry universe of Champions Battle, Shadowverse Flame and Shadowverse anime is merge in my fanfics. inshort expect all characters in one world as crossover. FANFIC IS FANFIC.

**ENGLISH SUCKS BUT BARE WITH IT, JUST ENJOY THE PLOT**


Episode 3 - Need to Wake up...


The very next day, Yonazuki Lucia actually decided to drop off at Genesis Company.

There was something about the watermelon boy makes him curious.

More like, he cannot let this slide. 'That person knows my bank account.' How and when? Which is why, Lucia enters the building and approaches the service desk.

"Excuse me I'm looking for someone that works here." He says politely with his dead smile. The lady is the same person in charge since yesterday. "Yes? Do you know the name and what do you need from them?" She asks with no ill intent. Just typical probing questions.

Lucia makes a white lie. "...I borrowed a money and I want to return it. I unfortunately don't know the name."

If he says the money is given to him as a sign of gratitude there might be some issues so he had to lie about it. The lady nods in understanding and starts to type something at her available keyboard and computer monitor.

"Can you describe how the person looks like?"

Lucia remembers clearly how Maura looks like. Like how would he forget such exquisite look? "Green haired with black highlights. In an off shoulder and red diamond tattoo." The approachable atmosphere of the lady changed. "Eeek!" She begins trembling.

"Eh?" Lucia confused what he said wrong? The service desk tries to composes herself and admits that she knows whose Lucia describing. "Uh...I see, you are referring to Maura-sama."

'Maura-sama...' the fact that person got addressed with some position. Truly means it is not just a normal person he got himself associated with. Lucia took note of that in his head. "Maura is his name okay. So...is he available?"

The service desk heavily sighs as she grabs the communicator phone office. "Let me check." A few exchange of verbal nods, she drops the phone and face Lucia with mixed emotions.

She delivers the bad news.

"Unfortunately Maura-sama is currently confined in Genesis hospital floor and that floor is off limit."

'Confined...Is it the drugs...?' Lucia triggered by that. "When will he be discharge...?"

The service lady bows apologetically.

"Its classified information I'm afraid."

Lucia now bothered and made his own assumptions. 'He was that...sick...I knew it. He is suffering from a terrible illness maybe similar to Shiori..?' Keeping it cool outside. "I see. It cannot be helped then." The service lady who fears Maura and kinda relief Maura will not be available for a while to bully her self confidence, she wants to do her job right so she offers. "If you like we can take the money and just give it to him-"

But Lucia cuts him off. "I want to thank him personally. Its ok, I will come back next time." Quickly he turns his back and exits the building. Walking far away from Genesis corp, his head full of questions more.

'Maura is his name, the person I help and the person who knows my bank account.'

At least he knows his name now.

"Who are you Maura...?"

Why does Maura knows him, Lucia can only worry about it for a while...

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"You may get dress now." Marguerite tells Maura.

Here at the lab room where Maura is butt naked, proceeds to wear again his patient clothes.

"So what is happening to me?" Maura genuinely asks. True to be told, he clearly don't understand what happened to him ever since he had memories about Leon being evil and that he grew older running free from responsibilities.

Then a box ruined it and now he doesn't know if the Tree of woe did possesses his body giving him such pain in the ass.

Marguerite sighs. "Everything is normal. Except..." she pauses and eyed Maura up and down. Maura crosses his arms, and she can tell Maura wants her to hurry up and spill beans.

"Except what?" Sound rather impatient, Maura cannot wait to get out of this floor. "Except the times you feel intensive pain. Even pain killers couldn't wipe it off, yet no drug found nor illness within your blood and cells." She finishes. That is music to Maura's ears that they did not realize he is having a magical struggle right now.

Maura plays it off. "Figures. Am special after all!" He jokes.

Marguerite is about to smile when Leon Aurenche came by.

"Marguerite~ How is Maura?"

Maura kept his cool. "Leon-sama!" And of course he made sure not to be distant or else they might look more onto his weird condition.

"Totally normal." Marguerite says shortly. "You can discharge him now. Though those sudden pain attacks, I suggest Maura to take his medicine still...just in case it has late effectivity."

Leon agrees to that, he trust Marguerite the most who works diligently out of all his pawns to play.

Though he eyed Maura suspiciously.

"Does your eyes still turn blue?"

Maura shake his head. "Not that I ever notice."

Leon massage his temples. Somehow Maura's weird condition is kinda giving him stress.

But he decided to brush it off for now.

"I guess you can go back to the outside world." Leon approaches Maura and holds both side of his shoulders. "Just promise me you will take care of yourself for me Maura."

Maura can sense Leon is a bit afraid that he might die from a unknown illness and that tarnishes his evil plans.

Maura a good boy he is. "I promise not to disappoint you Leon-sama."

Leon pleased to hear that.

"Let us go back home." Leon tells him to change back to his casual clothes so they can go back together to the top floor.

"Yes of course, Leon-sama!"

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Back at outside.

Maura Abelard exits the Genesis building.

He looks back at his confinement indoor hospitalization.

"3 days had passed..." he looks at his smartphone. "Yet Leon-sama did not question the money I gave away."

This confirms one of the things from his memory.

First of them is the freedom and trust Leon gave him access to Genesis's money where he can put it on tabs anywhere he wants to eat, buy or go, as long as he keeps his Shadowverse rank as Grand Master. Maura taps at his Shadowverse app. His title pops as it is and his iconic God of curse.

"...I'm at Grand Master rank. So if my memories are the real thing. This means Yonazuki Lucia is hanging out at the Underworld."

I mean, he already met him there. Surely he can see him again.

Maura had a plan actually.

"I should befriend him and see if he remember anything about the real world."

Maura speculated that maybe all of them are trap in a dream world like before. So he wants to test if Lucia recalls anything that may give him a strong hint that he is not being delusional of his memories.

And if ever...

"If anything about me does not really ring a bell to Lucia. It only means...I was the one dreaming all along..."

Maura can't say for certain about him travel back in time. Because if he did, it should have travel to the part where Hiro got his phone.

However as he look at the logins of Shadowverse server, Ryuugasaki Hiro does not have an account yet.

Meaning this is a one year stage before the main event.

Maura wishes to be patient for now.

"Let's see the Prince of Shadows~"

...


Reaching the casino. Everything is the same, the people, the smell, the lighting, the gamblers, the weirdos and gangsters.

Maura actually never notice how he never actually known these people.

'I guess they were so generic and useless back then to me.' But now this held something nostalgic at his heart. As Maura casually walks inside, nobody bat an eye to him. Some whispers and talks about him but about being terrifying, sadistic...crazy. Maura frowns as it sinks back to him why nobody actually plays Shadowverse with him. 'So people really think I was a creep?!'

His hurt were drop when he saw the prince roaming around the tables. He seems to be looking for an opponent.

Excited to talk to him soonest. "Yonazuki Lucia! HEY-" Maura stop at his tracks.

Gasp.

There is a hidden fear hit him. 'Wait, I remember he is actually annoyed at me back then. He always avoid me. So if I do the same thing...he would probably not help me...'

Uncertain whether to approach and be friendly as always he had with Lucia...or this time should he give him space and just stalk him for a while before he get to know him again.

"...Ow!" Maura hisses in pain. "My body hurts again huh..." A small despair hits Maura as he took out some pain killers. "As if these works." Unable to make decision on calling out Lucia's attention, Maura proceeds to the bar counter and ordered some liquor so he can drink his medicine. Meanwhile the moment Maura almost called his name, Yonazuki Lucia actually heard it from afar.

Head turn.

'Hm? Somebody called me?' He looks around the crowd. He did not notice Maura there since there is a bunch of groups passing by. The usual gang gathering.

Although Lucia is not yet famous at this point. Everyone knows him as the one of a few countable Bloodcraft users, but nobody calls him yet the Prince of Shadow. "Must be an imagination..." Lucia ready to accept its just the wind. The corner of his eyes suddenly caught a watermelon head.

'It's Maura...!' In a hurry, Lucia walks faster than usual...

He goes to the table where Maura had been sitting since his dilemma to call Lucia out of not. Maura unaware the prey already offered himself for attention...

Maura is actually busy drinking 5 tablets of medicine. Pain killer, Stomach Ache, one medicine for fever, one medicine for appetite since he lost appetite recently and lastly is a sleeping pill. Just incase he couldn't sleep due to immense pain if the so called pain killers does not take effect.

Finally Lucia reaches his side.

"Finally found you." Darkly Lucia says. Maura slowly turns his head half drunk already. "Hmm~?" Maura just sneers at him. Lucia made himself clear. "I've been looking for you. I have a lot of questions to you." Maura find it silly he decided to be bitter.

"Do I know you~?"

Lucia not buying that, he is unable to keep his cool since Maura is not taking this reunion very seriously. It kinda get his nerves. "Don't play dumb. Why do you know my bank account? Why do you know my name and my Shadowverse account?"

Maura purrs. "Hnn~ you don't even remember me. Why should I tell you now on~ how?" He creepily giggled. "Ehehehe~ you chasing me now? How sweet of you."

Lucia pressing more. "What else do you know about me?"

Maurs says the worst choices. "Hnn~ like the size of your shoes?"

Lucia almost choke. "You-" his anger drops down the moment he notice Maura had a glass of wine.

'...Its color red, its not water.' He then notice some unpacked medicine that is already open and some tablets are missing. 'His meds...?' Eyes raised when Maura took the one last pill and uses the wine to make him swallow it

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

"Wew~" Maura chuckles, he was depressing to look at. "Ehehehehe~"

Yonazuki Lucia confronts him. "Wait is that Liquor?" Clearly Maura made wine his water for drinking his meds and it doesn't sit right with him knowing Maura had been in the hospital 3 days ago. "Why are you drinking liquor, arent you underage?" What bothers him the most.

Maura waves him off. "Its fine. Please do not worry about me. I can handle my liquor~" taking another glass, Lucia grabs the bottle away and scolds him.

"That's not it. You are under age." Maura getting a bit piss. 'Why does he care about me now?' The medicine and liquor messing his real feelings. 'What now...? Am in alternate universe? A dream in Eldora or time travel?' Maura still thinks he is going insane so he teases Lucia, his usual treatment. "Well...its none of your business. Am a stranger right~? Or what is it, do you wanna drink this instead after I sip on it already~ my ~ my how daring~ ufufu~"

Maura lick his lips to seduce Lucia.

Lucia frowns at him, he was now upset. "That's not what I meant. You just got out of hospital. This is bad for your health."

Maura snaps out of drunk mode. "...H-how did you know that?" Is this a hope that Lucia actually had memories of him!?

However Lucia took advantage of his attention. "I will tell you if me tell me yours first."

Maura raised an eyebrow as he purposely laughs at Lucia. "Ahh~haha~ I see, I see, you wanna play me huh." He made fake sobs. "You always broke my heart, my dear Prince of Shadows~"

Ah there is it.

'Again the Prince of Shadows.' Lucia seriously thought why Maura thinks and calls him that. Although its not a bad nickname, it actually sounds like him and he kinda like it. But he won't feel safe until he knows why Maura knows his bank account.

Maura gaslights him. "You don't even remember what happen between us and how I cried to my hearts content when you were so cold~" with evil smirking. "Our dirty lil secret...aha...ahaha~" Lucia can tell why Maura is being mean... 'He seems drunk.' Secretly eyeing the remainders of the medicine package. 'Sleeping pills, pain killers, headache, stomach ache and I guess for fever...?' `Lucia compared that to Shiori's medicine. This means Maura had a terrible illness.

So he decided to keep it cool. "I really cant recall meeting you. Why cant you just tell me?"

Maura stops.

For a moment he opened his eyes, those despairing purple eyes connects to Lucia's dead irises.

"If I tell you, will you actually believe me? Even my owner thinks am going crazy. Maybe am going crazy "

Lucia disturb. 'He has an owner? Is he a pet of an organization other than Genesis...?' Maura suddenly stands up and zoom his face to whisper at Lucia's ears. "Do you recall the day I cried to you for comfort? Of course you don't. Its only my memory perhaps a distant dream."

Short blushing in Lucia's face, he was about to retort but suddenly Maura collapses in his arms.

"Oi..!" Able to catch him. "Hang on!"

Lucia placed Maura back to his sit. Light slap to Maura's cold cheeks. "Hey...wake up...you can't collapse here again."

Worried.

Good thing Maura flutters his sleepy eyes.

"Nnn..." Maura says out of nowhere. "I don't wanna die Yonazuki Lucia."

Lucia is quiet as he monitors Maura's mental stability.

"I want to live yet am stuck at this body..."

Seeing Maura hugs himself as he slightly trembles to face death.

Yonazuki Lucia's heart sank.

'He and Shiori are the same.'

While Maura is referring to his adult self. Now he shrink back to his younger self whose in danger to get devoured by Tree of Woe. It tells him he is going to die this time if that was not real. However to Lucia, he misunderstood. 'Grave illness...?' Deciding to comfort Maura since he can relate to his struggles. "I have a little sister. She is younger than you. She has a unknown sickness that caused her to be bedridden at the hospital."

Maura could tell Lucia is building an empathy towards his situation.

But Maura is not dumb. He knows Lucia misunderstood whatever he just confessed. "Your sister is not dying." He says with certainty. Lucia puzzled and somehow alarmed. "How do you say so? And you also know about my sister?"

Maura smiles, he is back to composure. "Yonazuki Shiori, your beloved little sister. The whole reason you play Shadowverse for money to pay her bills~" Maura suddenly took out his cellphone and typed something.

Lucia watches him silently before Maura shows his Shadowverse server widen in disbelief.

"You can see all the users of Shadowverse?!" Maura finally introduces himself. "I'm Maura Abelard. Leon Aurenche's protégé... I'm a Grand Master ranker who happen to have fascination against you my dear prince of Shadows~"

Maura says in absolute sexiest way to look proud by it.

Lucia gulps down.

"So you are the son of Shadowverse founder?"

He guessed wrong. "Nope, I'm just adopted who happen to had direct special hard lessons with the CEO of Genesis company every single night for me to cry in pain and humiliation~" Maura says as if those lines did not sound lewd.

Checking the time at phone, Maura had plan B now that Lucia actually decided to interact with him.

'It seems fate siding me for now.' Maura takes advantage of it. "Say!" He grabs Lucia's hands. "I know it's too early but let's visit your Sister at the hospital~!" Lucia actually angry by that idea. "Don't you dare come near Shiori-" but Maura shuts him up by a index finger to block his lips.

"Tsk~tsk." Maura playfully tells him. "I know you need another huge money. I can pay you again!" He brag about his infinite bank access to the Genesis company.

"Hence I can even heal your sister~"

Sounds fishy but Lucia is interested if its something can cure Shiori.

Judging Maura works with Genesis company that has advance technology, it may not be a bad idea to get closer to this Maura Abelard.

But you know...

"You still didn't answer my question. Why do you know my bank account? Why did you pay me a huge amount of money. That is obviously not just money, the exact amount you gave me is something I really needed that day."

Lucia gave logics. "In Shadowverse, in order to memorize someone's bank account is the player gave it to you. Because the QR code in money transfer is block unless someone had versus play in one game." Genesis company built Shadowverse money transfer to be transferrable unless you guys connect to play Shadowverse. Once the opponent looses the QR code for bank reveals if ever you guys bet money.

Funny thing, Maura sent him money without the QR scan which means Maura personally knows his bank account number.

And that is alarming in various ways.

"Ohh~ how sharp, as expected from Yonazuki Lucia." Maura hums. "So answer me." Lucia had enough of games. "You better not be bull shitting me." Maura though likes to keep dodging. "You see I'm happy you came for me instead of me coming to you~!" Lucia kept serious. "...I came because I have a lot of questions to you."

Maura gives him a pat. "Sure! You can ask me whatever you want. Do you wanna know my measurements~?"

Lucia clears his throat. "Ehem."

Maura just being Maura. "Silly~ I was just kiddin."

Lucia says with stoic face.

"My first question is, are you are girl or a boy?"

Maura off guard. "Excuse me?!"

Suddenly Lucia grabs his smartphone but Maura avoids it.

"Stealing to see my private photos huh~ Prince of Shadows~?" Evil grin.

"Tsk." Lucia clicks his tongue. "Will you reveal yourself to me already? Or I will get angry at you."

Last warning.

"I time travelled." Maura bluntly says.

"..."

Silence.

"That's it!" Maura made a cute pose.

Lucia heavily sighs. "I made myself clear no bullshit."

Maura tilts his head feeling unaware that whatever he says is consider a lie even though it might be the actual truth.

"Its not, it is the truth."

Maura point a finger at his own chin with a quirkiest smile. "Let me tell you a secret~" Lucia is all ears. "Your sister Yonazuki Shiori is not sick at all. She just have anxiety because she is deeply worried about your happiness."

Lucia not bewildered enough, he had seen it coming. "As I thought you knew my backstory. How much do you know?"

"Aside from your shoes, I know what else excites you~" there was a cut before Maura continued the last words. "Like the thrill of gambling in Shadowverse battles." Wink.

Lucia mentally smack himself. 'Dammit why is this person using the worst choice of words. Is this person seducing me?'

Then unintentionally Maura drops a bomb at him.

"You see I don't have much time left..."

"Eh...?" Lucia froze as Maura says with such emptiness. Lucia personally thought. 'He had few months to live or something...?!' Not sure how to response to such heavy burden. Taking Lucia's silence as initiative to take advantage of it, Maura begs of him with sweetness. "So I would like to spend my remaining time to be with the person I like the most. That is you Yonazuki Lucia~"

Lucia's head be like. 'Why me...?'

Finally Maura offers his hand, a first step to have an ally in this universe where Maura is alienated.

"Please let me bring your preys because that would motivate me."

That sounds totally wrong but...

Lucia eyed his hand and it felt dark. "...You cannot possibly mean..." to think some like Maura whose rich enough but unable to fight his incurable illness. 'Then what about Shiori...is she really not sick unlike this person?' Well that's what Lucia thought so. He didn't knew Maura is talking about something else.

'How will I avoid the Tree of Woe this time?' Maura is ready to take a shot of this movement to befriend Yonazuki Lucia. Back then he failed to establish a good relationship with him. 'I have to save more points and buy cards for my deck.' Maura is thinking of enhancing his cards right off the start so that if ever Tree of Woe actually comes to revive in this timeline if this is not a alternate universe.

Then Maura better get serious on Shadowverse.

He was never serious on playing Shadowverse. If he got too serious he is most likely the strongest player. Hiro may have the raw talent or power of luck, it still does not change the fact Maura knows every single crafts and cards in Shadowverse because Leon Aurenche the founder of the game itself taught him all that.

Even the Legendary cards, he knows how they work.

Unexpectedly Lucia took his hand.

"I understood."

Maura smiles wider, Lucia sweat drops already doubting his choice.

Maura shakes his hands all delighted. "Of course I will pay you for your company! I know you use your precious time to battle stronger players to win money out of Shadowverse. So a proposal I can give, times you do not battle give it to me. Give me your time Yonazuki Lucia...I will pay you~!"

Maura makes his tabloid set up to Lucia's future to spread his name. "From now on people will flock over you and call you the Prince of Shadows~!" He was acting pretty confident that Lucia is loss for words.

"And if you are no longer able to pay money what comes after?"

Maura winks at him. "I can pay with my body!"
Lucia dumbfounded. "What?!"

Lucia spills his secret opinion. "You aren't a hooker but you have no shame! So vulgar!"

Maura surprised for a moment. "What? You thought am a hooker...?" Is that why Lucia had been always awkward towards him back in the original timeline? "Pff~" laughable. "Bwahahahaha!"

Tears of dying laughter. "Is that why you have always avoided eye contact to me all those years~?!" Maura very amused.

Lucia furrowed his eyebrows more . "Years? I just met you."

Maura is making Lucia flooded with questions again. "I'm talking about the other universe inside my dream~!"

Looking at each other.

"Well then, deal?"

Yonazuki Lucia wants money, and the Prince of Shadows sounds appealing.

He thus agreed.

"...Deal."

"Well that's settled..." Maura yawns. "Catch me~" and collapses.

"Hey!" Lucia catching Maura fall flat into his arms. "He's just sleeping..." must the sleeping pills finally kicking in.

...


And so Yonazuki Lucia is now known the Prince of Shadows. Just like in the past, based on Maura's memories he went ahead and trick dare devil players to bid with Lucia so he can win lots of money.

While Maura also do his thing, he plays Shadowverse to put some people to despair so his points stack more. The despair part is just him bored and decided to bully people because for him it has been a while since he let off his angry steam out in plays. He will use this to upgrade all his cards and to improve the God of curse.

Even though things going as planned...

Sometimes...

No, most of the times Maura felt so alone.

The fact Yonazuki Lucia is less cold towards him is a sign for Maura to come in a conclusion.

(("This world is fake."))

The fact Leon is also kinder than usual, or maybe because he had some unknown sickness in their eyes and yet to find cure.

However not to Maura.

Everyone here who is too kind towards him is something his heart knows had desired. Only one thing can mean if everything is too good to be real. "How is the glory Prince of Shadows~?" It's like raining money. Maura plays with Lucia's hair who swats his hand but not hard enough to make them red.

He just wants to avoid Maura touching him too much at his soft hair. "Stop calling me that." Lucia at the couch. He just finished his glass of juice at the table. Maura relaxing at the sofa's arm rest edge with cross legs instead of sitting normally. "Oh come on~ admit you like to be called like that."

Lucia gave him a certain look of acknowledgement. "Whenever its the two of us just call me Lucia." And that made Maura stunned a bit. In the end he let a sound of- "...Oh." before his closed eyes seems to be making a face.

Maura would like to blush but he felt sad. 'Yonazuki Lucia is not being mean to me...' As for Lucia who saw that certain expression multiple times whenever Maura expected something yet his hopes got betrayed.

Even though Maura is still very mysterious, just because he reminds him of Shiori...Lucia is more understanding than the original timeline. "What is it?" He puts out the question. Maura hops off the sofa's edge rest arm then he twirls around to put his hands together at his back with one eye open.

"You really are kind here huh..."

Lucia not good reading him still. "Maura?"

It was then...

"Brppf!" Something came over Maura's whole body and commanded him to feel sick all of sudden.

"Maura?"

Maura covers his mouth as Lucia can see his other free hands goes to cover his stomach. Maura's legs fidgets together as he urgently tells.

"I'm...blrrpp- going to v-vomit...!" And runs all the way to the men's restroom.

Lucia chasing after Maura. "Maura wait!"

Lucia finds Maura in one of the toilet bowl's trying to throw up something unseen.

"Hahh...hahh...ugh..." Cold sweats in Maura's forehead and he still clutching his stomach as if he is going to have cramps. "This body is horrible." Maura curses. Yonazuki Lucia finally dares to point out as per being with Maura for the last few days when they started their partnership. "Recently you've been vomiting." Maura can tell Lucia is very concern despite the emotionless statement.

Feeling funny, Maura chuckles about his situation. "Vomit huh? Ehehe~ I can't call it vomiting since nothing comes out whenever I feel like throwing up~" rubbing his belly a bit. Lucia curious if Maura is taking care of his health. "Have you got your checks up?"

Maura casually composes back himself as if he did not act like a cat having hairball, he goes to the available sink to wash his mouth and face even though he did not throw anything.

Maura whines. "Check ups are useless. They couldn't find what is wrong with me." Then he glances at Lucia through the mirror reflection. "But I know what is wrong." And he faces him with cold gaze.

"It's this world."

Uhhh...okay?

Lucia still not believing a single thing Maura been saying.

"Are you still believing this is a dream...?" He was doubtful of Maura's mental state.

Maura presents himself, arms open wide. "Yes of course~! There is no way you'll be friendly to me like this~ Certainly at this time of year." He sounds rather sarcastic.

Lucia could only wish a little. "...Then I hope it's a dream as you say...if in reality Shiori is never sick that would be a miracle."

Maura crosses his arms now. "Miracle huh. This is more like a punishment to me~" exchanging negative thoughts. "To Leon Aurenche again feels like a curse even though I want to see him to say goodbye." Lucia have run out of things to says. "Maura..."

Maura frowns at Lucia's sad face. He did not want to see that. This is definitely an ideal world and Maura is not convinced that this isn't a made up world by his braincells.

Truly within his heart he somehow hope to turn back time but to amend things. Not to have things be kinder to him if its not realistic.

"Don't mind me~ I'm just being crazy as always~"

Maura declares as he walks to the toilet's door frame exit. "No need to think much about the things I say." With a verbal nod to Lucia. "You don't even remember it then it might as well be all illusions~"

Maura says that but truly he had enough.

"I shall be going now~" he walks out, Lucia of course followed.

"I'll take you home." The gentleman he is.

Maura pauses for a short while, his heart flutters but his mind is in a mess of this dream like-ish come true to be in good terms with Lucia before the primary events to come next year.

"I guess your kindness I can enjoy it somehow~"

Lucia could only look at Maura without anything else to tell him.

"..."

Lucia made sure Maura gets back to Genesis company.

For some reason Maura acted a bit distant when he is always familiar to him and Lucia doesn't get him at all.

'Mood swings? Or perhaps his condition making him depress...?'

Yonazuki Lucia turned his back and walk away the opposite direction of Maura's whose now entering the Genesis corps' premises..

...


Lucia visiting Shiori at the hospital.

"Good evening Niisan." Yonazuki Shiori typically sitting at her bed.

Lucia sits at her bed side. "Shiori, sorry I got late again." He smiles.

As always Shiori would be understanding enough hoe her brother is always busy. "It's fine. As long I can see you even just a bit-" but then she noticed. "Niisan?"

Lucia's face.

"Yeah?"

Yonazuki Lucia had a small smile. It did not look fake unlike most of the time. Interested to find out, Shiori teases her brother. "You seem to be smiling. Did something good happen?"

Lucia recalled. "Ahh..." Recently the money is overflowing from Maura getting him strong players whose dumb enough to bet too much large money just to take him down.

Of course he will be pleased. Easy money means more assistance for Shiori to get cured or taken care of.

Lucia thinks no harm sharing since he have known Maura to be fairly sick like his sister. "Remember the Good Samaritan? I found him." Shiori claps her hands. "Ohh! Wonderful! So how did it go? Did you thank him properly? Did you ask the name?" Excited.

Lucia utters his name. "Maura." Shiori pauses and thinks about it. "Maura-san...I see what a unique name!"

Lucia would always tell Shiori stories outside, the only things he won't tell her are bad things. After all Shiori is weak to stress. Since Maura had been so helpful, he thought this will make Shiori more relief about him.

"We decided to Collab at Shadowverse."

It was effective. "I see! Maura-san is also a Shadowverse player!" Shiori nodding. "Is Maura-san strong?"

That made Lucia paused. Now Shiori mentions...

"...I haven't seen him play. But I can tell from the looks that he is good at Shadowverse."

Getting serious again.

"Shiori."

"Yes Niisan?"

Lucia can see Shiori's hands starts trembling again. This means Shiori is feeling tired already despite her joy for tonight's meet up. So he touches her hands and oaths to her, the usual knight and shining armor prince he built himself. "I promise to save more money to save you from suffering."

He was Shiori's protector. "Niisan..." Shiori can tell Lucia knows how her hands shakes in anxiety even though she refuses to be like that. So she changed the mood. "Then Niisan, promise me one thing!" Shiori too cheerful scaring Lucia sometimes. "W-what could it be?" Nervous.

Yonazuki Shiori asks for pinky promise.

"Will you bring Maura-san?"

Lucia unsure.

"...We'll see."

.

.

.

.

.

.

While that is happening to Lucia, here is Maura's situation.

Maura at his room staring at his own reflection. For a quick moment his eyes turned blue again before they faded back to purple. Irritated. "Nexus! You are there right!?" Maura yells. He is confident to confront the unknown since during this time Leon is away from a business trip. He won't be back till next week.

And Maura had enough of lies. "This is some Eldora again isn't?! I don't need lies like this! Wake me up this instant...!"

No response.

Maura attacks his mirror reflection. "GET OUT OF ME! JUST LET ME OUT!" His eyes turned blue again. "TREE OF WOE OR SHADOWS WHATEVER IT IS...LET ME GO ALREADY!" Maura cries his anguish. "WHAT SO GOOD ABOUT ME YOU WANT TO DEVOUR ME THAT BADLY?!"

The mirror cracks.

Maura gasps back to reality.

"Oh no." He broke the mirror with raw strength?

Maura embraces himself for comfort. "What on earth has happen to me...?" Silently the hopelessness is knocking. "Will I ever truly be free...?" Maura Abelard is cursed. Therefore he surely belong to the God of Curses. "I hate...this...!"

Maura silently sobs to his unknown future. He glances at the calendar, it is already July and things have not progress. "Sure I was able to make a good relationship to Yonazuki Lucia this time. But it doesn't change the fact that my body has been taken over to be in this deep sleep."

Maura felt it. He touches his stomach. "I can feel something hot inside me and it seems to be moving..."

Afraid of the unknown.

Maura closed his eyes and prayed. "Please God, save me! Save me again from this cursed fate!"

Silence.

Maura had always been religious. His prayers were answered from the past. Will it do the same miracle again?

"I'm alone..."

Eyeing his Shadowverse account left opened. "The Yonazuki Lucia of this world, the Leon Aurenche of this place...everything...anyone of them are not the people I know." Maura talks to himself. "I was a teenager already." His memories have become more clear. "It's that box fault-"

Eyes Gasp.

"The box!" Maura remember Leon is out. Meaning his room can be accessed by now... "T-that's right. Is that box existing already...?" Only way to find out, Maura dares to go to the other room where Leon's is.

Gulps.

Maura knows the security is active. But hey, its not the first time he got to Leon's room. When he was first adopted he was allowed to sleep in Leon's room to calm his nightmares of being abuse in the streets when he is still a beggar. Right now though kind of dangerous to go inside because he is fully aware how cursed Leon's items are.

"I must find that box..."

Maura turns the door knob.

CREAK~

All of Leon's stuff are back, well in this time yes it should be. Maura then begins to look for the box where he first found it. 'It should be up the shelves...' But he was small to reach and see. "How troublesome." Maura grabs the nearest chair and uses it.

He get to see the top of shelves but the box is not there. "It's not here...? Where is it hidden then.?" Maura felt a little bit scared. "Or could it be during this year it has not reveal itself yet?"

Then...

"Ah!" Maura's stomach hurts. "I-It hurts again...!" He falls to the floor and the chair fell down too.

BLAG!

"Urgh! My...medicine...I must..." even though it wasn't that effective. The medicines Leon gave him were a little bit of relief that puts him to sleep so he will stop feeling the pain.

However nobody is around to help him.

"I don't...khh..have...one in pockets...Gah!" Maura holds his stomach. "W-what is it? I feel it...!"

Maura's eyes turns blue, his stomach also glows blue. "It hurts! It hurts! I...don't want to die...!"

Throb, throb, throb.

"Haahh...!"

Maura always hated physical pain, it affects him mentally. And this strange thing happening to his body had been making him suffer.

"H-help...!"

A female's voice ring in his ears.

("Ma...u...ra..san...")

Maura starts to think his hallucination gone wild. "W-who...?"

("Maura...san...the...seed...is..")

The voice sounds godly. Maura squirming in pain at the floor all curled up pathetically.

Maura unaware his voice raising in anguish.

"Who is it?! Whose making me suffer?! What seed...!"

No use.

Without warning his body went limp.

"Augh!"

Maura faintly saw bishop shoes, that he might have seen through his reality.

He didn't know it was Eris calling out to him.

Maura Abelard already fainted.

...

Maura found himself at his room.

"...?"

It was midnight already.

"You alright Maura-san?"

Jerking up from his bed. "M-Marguerite...!"

Marguerite looks worried, she already knows Maura lost consciousness again from his illness they can't find source. "I found you at Boss Leon's room. What are you doing there? We both know you and I are still off limits there even if we are the most closest person to him."

Reading Maura's behavior. Maura is sweating. "The box..." Maura somehow trusts Marguerite. She was the only one who believe he had good in him when he is grown up. "What box?"

Maura confesses. "Leon-sama has a strange box with the symbol...the Tree of Woe." Marguerite who knows project Nexus except she didn't know Maura is a sacrifice and that Leon is evil. Innocent as she is. "Boss Leon had such thing at his room?"

Maura pleads. "Please find it! It's dangerous so...d-don't tell anyone that I know about it!" Although Marguerite is skeptical, maybe Maura is breaking down. "Calm down Maura-san. Also Boss Leon should know-" "Don't tell him." Maura sound cold. "I like you Marguerite." A Sudden sweet smile. 'What...?'

He says and made Marguerite gawk.

She always though he was a creepy unfriendly boy. Is the drugs ruining his personality? "Maura-san...I appreciate that but..." she could never betray her boss. But Maura looks desperate and sound so serious. "If you find the box let me know okay?" Forceful, Marguerite decided to agree for now so Maura won't get all worked up. "Alright, I promise. But do me a favor, please take your meds."

She handed him the medicine, pills and other stuff Maura needs. "Please rest Maura-san. I hope you have good dreams." Strangely enough Maura felt more upset than assured. "Y...yeah." Adding. "Tomorrow Boss Leon might come home. His business trip ended faster than expected. So you'll have another lab test if that happens. Please be prepared." With that note, Marguerite leaves.

Making Maura gone to a conclusion.

"If I can't wake up from this dream am caged...should I die...?"

.

.

.

.

.

.


Lucia's POV

Maura Abelard.

He came to my life like a storm. Now he made me curious. I was not planning to be close, I was just concerned when I found him the first time. Even thought its so not like me to concern myself on other people's problem and suffering. For whatever reason...

I'm drawn to notice him.

Like example...

One time I saw him at the Underworld gazing up the hole in the ceiling. This place is a bit run down, so it has holes above. I saw Maura looked so lonely. For unexplainable reason it reminded me of my dark resolve. How me and Shiori are all alone at this cruel world.

His eyes are rarely revealing, but whenever he does it showed his mesmerizing purple eyes that holds a lot of secret to tell. As mention, it doesn't bother me if the person is struggling on something.

Let them all suffer like how I and Shiori is.

But when I look at Maura, something about his appearance kinda similar to Shiori. Not the outfit style basis but his features. Especially whenever Maura fell on his knees with intensive pain. I always wanted to ask him what kind of illness does he has. But then again it is too personal for me too ask. So all I did is watch him suffer, just like how am powerless to aid Shiori whenever she feels in pain.

I was angry at myself and angry why some people had to be born with such burden. They deserve to be happy.

My beloved little sister deserves the whole world. As for Maura, he seem to have been stuck with delusion. He truly believes we had such relationship. Yet he won't tell me exactly what kind. Most of the time he would say suspicious words that may lead other people who hearing it to misunderstand.

I do not get him.

Maura is hard to comprehend...very hard for me to read. But one thing I was able to confirm...How sometimes he acts too friendly at me then sometimes he acts so distant towards me. I refuse to believe he time travel or what not. That is fiction. This is the truth, the world is unkind and despairing.

I at least had a bit of hope I can return the favor. The money he had been giving me, the fame and glory he had been working with me. Is something you don't do for free to others. He acts like he had me at my neck just because he knows everything about me.

But its the opposite.

I was holding him back, Maura has that uncertain look to his surroundings. I always find it weird, he is sickly yet Genesis Company allows him to roam around.

Could it be he is dying? He did mention he had limited time left. What does he mean by that...?

The other day...The usual routine we'll meet up the Underworld.

Then I found him to the sofa where I saw him first. He looks focused.

Ahh... He is reading a book. The title was...

'How to Wake up in Alternate Universe.'

Has he been reading such things that's why he was so into believing his life is a lie right now? That is not very healthy...

Oh now he got finished reading. Hm? His hands...they are trembling. Reminds me of Shiori's delicate hands. Times like this, his hand need some warmth if it's cold.

I can give it a shot.

I approached Maura who did not notice me right away.

So I dared.

Touch.

Instead of flinching, Maura Abelard begins to smug at me teasingly.

"Ara~ do you wanna hold hands with me?"

I has no ill intention.

"Your hands are trembling. Did you take your medicine?" I suck at conversing and it did made Maura disappointed. "Ahh~ how boring. You used to be all flustered." I knew he wanted to get me react, whenever I do it amuses him. But not this time. "I don't have time for games. Take your medicine already."

I sometimes see him skip on taking his pills. Sometimes I had the urge to spank him. But am not his sibling.

If only I can force him. But Maura is surprisingly obedient. "Hn, fine. I'll take it." Though he is making me face palm, he likes making wine his water. "No liquor." I warns him. Maura pulling away from my touch pretends to be hurt. "Buhuu~ you are so strict." I silently read his medicine.

The medicine rotation has changed.

'Anti depressants...?'

He first swallowed the anti depressant and a pain killer. Then he swallows the following arrangement. A pill for stomach ache, headache and lastly a certain type of medicine to make him gain appetite.

"..."

Now I take a closer look... Why the hell he has to stick out his tongue to slowly swallow the pills!? Is Maura doing this on purpose to rattle my mind?

He is very perverted and I don't know where to start. I stared too much, Maura notices it. "Now you are staring at me~?" I expected already he will flirt again. "Are you trying to peek inside me~?" It was that bad he forwarded his face where I can see his chest. I avoided to look at him yet Maura is a typical bully. He wants to gain reaction from me.

"Do you want me to expose myself to you my dear prince of Shadows~?" I needed him to stop. "That's not the reason why am staring at you." Frankly something else is on my mind.

It is...

"I haven't seen you play Shadowverse."

Maura chuckles. "Why~? Do you wanna do me?"

I was off guarded. "What do you mean by that-"

Its too late, he lick his lips. "You want to play with me~?" Good lord. Why am even associating with a weirdo. I thought he would tease me more, but all of the sudden he shrugs and lazily put his hands to both of his waist.

"I must be living in an alternate reality~" he says so lightly. "Kinda depressing~" I'm here to had a proper conversation. "I saw your ranking, it's a Grand Master. Meaning you are a strong player." Maura on the other hand gave me a mocking look. "Un, Yeah I told you that." He was daring me. "Is there a point battling me when you already get money from me Yonazuki Lucia~?"

He suddenly touch my chest, it travel downs.

"Tell me~ are you interested at me?"

I refuse to be teased this time. I glared at him.

"I must say I'm still bothered you know my bank account."

Maura flaunts away.

"Eeehh, you are least bothered with me knowing your measurements?!"

My what-

"Excuse me?!"

Maura laughs again.

"Puwahaha!"

He holds his stomach. I almost thought his stomach hurts again but I can see he is just really enjoying himself with his lewd thinking.

"Yes~yes! That's the expression I wanted to see. How cute, very cute!"

He wipes his own laughter away with triumphant smile.

"I'm all satisfied~"

What the heck.

Then the very next day...I thought we had connection. Maura look happy yesterday. But now... 'He's not here today...?' I don't see him. 'Did he got hospitalize again?' Thinking something must have happen to him. 'I'll wait tomorrow then.'

Yet Another day passed.

He is not there.

Another day, then again and again.

1 week later, already expected Maura won't be around.

The moment I entered the underworld, the presence became different.

Something...something creepy.

Then I heard it.

"Gaaah!"

A scream.

"Hm?"

I look down the rails that kept you from falling. You can view the Shadowverse field down stairs.

To my surprise...

"Kyahahaha! That's right cry in anguish!"

It's Maura Abelard with such a sickening attitude.

I doubted my eyes at first.

'Is that...Maura?'

I witnessed it.

"Low lives like you don't even deserve to have a place in this cruel world~!" Maura says with such bullying intent. "I'll crush your hope~!" He calls his best card it seems. The hologram light manifested the monster. "Descend! God of Curses!" The whole crowd shivered as I felt my spine crawl. What am witnessing...?

Who is this sadistic player...? "Now~ time for you to despair!" Is this his...true colors!?

"Waaah!"

In a blink, Maura's opponent got defeated.

Despair and fall onto his knees.

"Ahaha...ehehe...kyahahaha!"

I was bewildered. To think that sickly side of him has a different meaning of sickness. 'Is this...the real Maura...?' Normally I would brush it off. But he had some explanation to do. To abandon his duty on seeking my clients for battle gamble in Shadowverse, he disappeared without reason and now I'll see him having fun.

Not only that, he is a Havencraft user using one of the most difficult to use card the God of Curses. He is no ordinary Grand Master ranker.

He is above me.

"Maura..."

I approaches him.

Maura Abelard puts a hand at his waist, he didn't seem to think of me as important. "Oh Prince of Shadows~ were you looking for me?" Somehow I felt insulted. Then again Maura is yet to say things that you may misunderstood it's meaning. "How naughty of you to chase me~ Are you that hungry for my attention now?" He sweetly giggles. "Ehehe~ Not gonna lie, I do kinda like it."

Maura seems to be on edge. I can see his finger tapping, probably having an anxiety while keeping his Cheshire cat smirk. "You did not show up yesterday." I told him with my stoic face. I hope he can sense I was mad. Maura lazily explains himself. "Ahh~ well my stomach hurts. So I stayed home."

I understand.

"I see."

However the back of my mind felt hurt. I did not like how I meant nothing even after how he made me feel close to him, now he will act so far away.

It's unfair.

Ah oh.

Maura is staring at me.

Maura walk towards me in cat walk steps before he twerk again his body to tease me. Seriously why does he act this way? Who raised him? "What's this, hnn~ are you upset~?" I made a face. "You could have notified me."

I tells him.

To my shock Maura whose usually clingy said so coldly.

"Am oblige to do so~?"

Now he mention, not really.

"..."

I say nothing.

Then I recall. "This is the first time I saw you play Shadowverse."

Maura bored. "Ok~? Then?"

I'm not good on keeping conversations. Why does Maura have to make it so difficult for me?

I ended up stuttering. "Y...you look..."

Ahh, embarrassing.

I need to keep my cool.

With that being said, Maura shakes his head. "Aahh~ I get it." He straighten up his body and crosses his arms keeping his evil smirking. "You did not expect me to be a sadistic player do you~?"

That's not it.

"...It's ok." No use, he retorts back. "No it's not~ I know you are terrified." Maura opened his eyes, I saw it again his exhausted purple eyes of despair. "You just don't know me." He starts to circle around me. We had ignored everything else, the people are watching us but none of them matters. "The Lucia here knows nothing at all~"

I'm getting annoyed now.

"Are you still mad that I don't remember the things you had told me?" Maura chuckles but its not him entertained. Just him mocking himself. "Im not mad~ am just voicing my thoughts. That's all." I went silent.

Maura then looks at everyone as he threats. "What are you mongrels waiting for? Scatter!" Fear flag to everyone they all scattered as told and let us be.

"..."

Maura now staring at the floor.

"Ma-"

There it is.

Maura covered his eyes. "Ugh!" I was alerted to help. "Hey!" But Maura yells at me.

"STAY AWAY!"

Maura is unstable.

"D-DON'T LOOK AT ME!"

Shit.

"STOP PRETENDING YOU CARE! YOU DO NOT!"

What...?

I'm not good with drama.

I slowly held up my hands to touch him.

"It's ok, just take your meds..."

No use.

Maura runs away.

"Maura!"

I chased him.

...


Outer POV

Maura covered his eyes. "Ugh!" Lucia ready to take a step forward.

"Hey!" But Maura yells at him. "STAY AWAY!" Maura did not want him to find out how his eyes are turning blue again. Maura saw his reflection at the floor...his eyes are turning blue, turning purple light a broken Christmas lights.

Maura is unstable because of the fear to be exposed too early. 'This is bad, this is bad, this is bad!'

"D-DON'T LOOK AT ME!" Out of options, Maura says hurtful words to Lucia to not bother with him. "STOP PRETENDING YOU CARE! YOU DO NOT!" Not working, Lucia had always been cool. "It's ok, just take your meds..." Only option left is to escape.

Maura runs away.

Yonazuki Lucia chases the unstable Maura whose covering his eyes.

'Where did he went...?' He knew Maura did not run outside. In fact Maura run deeper the underground facility they are in.

Instead of calling out Maura's name, Lucia silently move his phase, sharpening his eyes more to see where could have the watermelon head hide himself. 'Could he be at the toilet...?' Lucia went there and Maura is not there. He checked all spots except. 'The VIP?'

Maybe Maura is in it.

Lucia dares to look at the glass frame within the VIP's door. There is Maura!

"Maura..."

Lucia enters one of the VIP room then Maura is at the very corner hiding. Maura Abelard had fallen to his knees trembling, muttering words Lucia cannot comprehend while he still covers his eyes with his two hands. Unsure if he should approach. Lucia made small steps and said.

"What is going on with you?"

It has to be asked.

Maura who finally noticed his presence froze. Before he whimpers.

"You are different. The old you will listen. I-I told you not to look at me." His face hidden. "I don't want to suffer anymore..." That took Lucia's breath hitch. He felt Maura's dark energy. "Your condition...is it worsening?" Maura laughs. "Ahaha...ahaha..." there was no joy.

It is like Maura lost his head.

Lucia freaking out but he remained looking composed. "Nee~ Yonazuki Lucia." As if a spirit possesses Maura he stood up like he had no control to his body. Like a zombie going near him. Maura pushes Lucia down the available bed. "Hold up...!" Lucia fell over, Maura above him.

Maura's voice breaking.

"Please end my suffering~ "

BADUMP!

Lucia lost for words, Maura opened his eyes the despair is deep. The sorrow reconnects to his hateful eyes.

"I'm in pain Lucia. Am tired..."

Lucia figures its Maura's illness affecting him.

Lucia knew he had to say something but he couldn't judge him.

'What should I tell him...?'

He doesn't understand Maura so, what on earth will make Maura have hope when he himself is not?

"Do you see me Yonazuki Lucia?"

Umm...

"Because I can't see you anymore.."

Uhh...

"Maura, calm down. We can talk about this."

But Maura doesn't budge.

Lucia can tell Maura will pull a bad stunt that may harm himself.

"Listen to me Maura, we should talk it out."

No use, Maura closes his eyes to smile.

Leaves Lucia no choice.

"Wah!"

Lucia grapples Maura down to switch places. The biggest mistake.

"Snap out of it!" But Maura his usual wrong choice of words.

"Ohh so you want to be the top~?" Lucia almost blushed then Maura smiles softly then took Lucia's right hand.

"W-what are you!" Lucia panics as Maura put his hand to touch Maura's stomach.

Lucia realized.

"...!" Maura's stomach is burning.

Lucia looks up to him as he is still trap at the bed.

"You are hot...?"

Maura flexes.

"I know am hot~"

Lucia mentally smacks himself.

"You need to go at the hospital Maura." Lucia commands him.

Maura hummed.

Lucia got ignored.

Silence...

Maura closes his eyes, Lucia sighs.

"Change topic." Maura says.
"Shoot." Lucia okayed.

Finally Maura brought it up again. "Can we visit your sister Yonazuki Shiori?"

For Lucia this is something really puzzling. "Why are you obsessed with meeting my sister?"
Maura giggles. "Hee-hee~ Why not? Aren't we friends~?" Came up with another bad joke. "Or do you want to be more than friends~?" Lucia tightens his hands that had pinned Maura's wrists while he forgot to remove his other hand that is placed at Maura's stomach.

"Were just Shadowverse business partners."

Maura laughs while Lucia is running out of things to react.

"Oh come~ I want to let your beloved little sister that you are not a lone boy anymore! Not virgin on making friends~" Maura evil grins. Lucia did not get the joke because his mind flashes back to his promise towards Shiori.

Lucia actually had a conversation the other day with Shiori.

It is about his mental wellness in youth.


FLASH BACK

Yonazuki Shiori asks one time.

(("Niisan, Do you have friends?"))

A lie escapes the prince lips. (("...Of course I do.")) Shiori insisted her curiosity. (("Can I meet one of them?"))

Lucia avoided eye contact. (("...Uhh if they have time."))

Shiori had her suspicion this is just her brother lying again. (("You are not lying right? Just to give me assurance?")) Persistent. (("Are you not enjoying your youth Niisan?")) Almost pouting. (("If it's true you had a friend, bring them over! Promise me!"))

Shiori remember it. (("Like Maura-san! I wanna see the good Samaritan in person!"))

Lucia afraid of his sister hating her lied more.

(("O-ok..."))

FLASHBACK ENDS.


Lucia finally removing himself a top of Maura, he sat at the edge of bed while Maura sits up fixing his clothes after getting flipped.

"...Actually, you are correct. Shiori had been pestering me to prove that I had a friend."

Maura mood swing back to playfulness.

"Aaand~?"

Lucia turns away.

"I lied."

Maura offers himself. "Hehe~ you can use me if you want. You can also use me in other kind of things~"

Lucia rolled his eyes.

But then again Lucia actually had been meaning to have the two cross paths. Maybe in that way Maura can see the good side if he will have someone similar to his illness.

"You had a mysterious condition. Perhaps you and Shiori can relate to each other."

Maura reacted negatively. "Mehh."

Lucia simply turns back to look at Maura. "Is it a no...?"

Maura sighs with a resigned smile. "It's not what I expected to come out of your mouth."

"...?"

Most of the time Lucia can't handle Maura's mood swings. But hey, he needs this guy to keep sending him preys for Shadowverse.

"When can you take me there?" Maura has seen to have calm down. "I can't go tomorrow I have check up." Deciding not to question the sudden change of topic from earlier, Lucia decided to respect it.

"Saturday."

"Okie~dokie."

He didn't knew it was one of his biggest mistake.

...


Saturday...

Usual meet up in the Underworld. This time Lucia saw Maura reading again a new book while waiting for him.

Inside his mind he reads the following. 'Die to Awaken?' Lucia interprets its title. 'It must be a book about to wake up in a dream sometimes you need to die...?' Kinda bothered. 'He's reading something darker than my life.' Maura closes the book and he waves at Lucia.

Lucia resigning to the fate of bringing Maura to his little sister may either be the worst or best decision.

It's a gamble...and he likes gambling in general but he won't admit it yet till he meets Ryuugasaki Hiro of course.

"Are you ready to go?"

Maura taps his fingers the other arm lifted his hand to provide support at his chin.

"Ohh~ you'll finally take me out?"

Lucia clear his throat. "Ehem. Maura, choice of words please. Maura defending himself. "What? You will take me to your sister's hospital right? What part of that is wrong~?" Lucia took a deep breath and sighs heavily, it feels like he will have a headache. He even might regret. "Never mind. Promise me you'll behave though."

Offering his hand, Maura look at it for a split second before he took Lucia's hand to hold onto it so he can stand up from the sofa.

"Of course I will! But I can't promise to behave when its you Yonazuki Lucia~!"

Lucia turns his back with a small smile though.
"Yeah, yeah."

.

.

.

.

.


Reaching Shiori's hospital.

The door opens. "Shiori." Lucia enters the room as Shiori surprised at his sudden early visit. "Niisan! You are quite early for visit-"

Behind him was...

"Ya~ Good evening." Maura Abelard.

"Oh!" Shiori gasps. "A-A girl?"

Lucia frowns. "No."

Shiori quickly covered her mouth and bowed apologetically. "My apologies! You were so cute I thought Niisan got himself a girlfriend."

Lucia gawks. "Shiori!"

Shiori smiles with flowers to hide her embarrassment on mis-gendering Maura.

Maura keeping it cool this time. "Nahh, were just friends~" But Lucia never actually think of himself as Maura's friend. More like partner in crime. "Were not! Were partner in- ugh-" but Lucia realize he isn't suppose to say that. It was a secret!

Maura on the other hand act so shock. "Is that why you pin me to the bed~?!" It was an obvious trap but Lucia went flustered. "I did not! You started it-"

He stops.

Shiori ended up having question marks. "Um..."

Maura knows he can't be bullying Lucia too much in front of his sister so he proceeds to introduce himself. "Ufufu~ my, my I appreciate the compliment Yonazuki Shiori."

Maura acted normal to Lucia's relief. "Nice meeting you. I'm Maura Abelard, who helps your brother in Shadowverse job." Shiori remembered Lucia mention the name of the person gave him money the day he needed the most was Maura. Shiori exclaims in joy. "Ahh! The good Samaritan!"

Lucia embarrassed. "Ehm-"

Its too late, Shiori is all excited. "So its you! Maura-san, we finally met!" Maura slowly turns his head to Lucia with pure innocent face. "Eh? You were sharing me to her?" Lucia went silent.

"..."

Maura taps his shoulders. "Nee-nee~ What did you tell her? How did you describe me? Nee, nee Lucia-"

Lucia mumbles. "I told you to behave." Maura acting rejected. "Eeehh~ how such cold gaze might make me pregnant~!" Lucia had enough. "Stop with your perverted jokes! Not in front of my lil sister-!" Shiori suddenly laughs. "Ufufu! Fuwahaha!" To Lucia that is a miracle. Shiori thinks they are getting along.

Unsure if his little sister is genuinely laughing.

"S-Shiori?"
"Fufufuu...hahaha!"

Eyes widen while Maura simply didn't find it weird.

Something inside Yonazuki Lucia sparks.

"I'm happy for you Niisan." Yonazuki Shiori smiles with red cheeks. It has been a while since the last Shiori made her laughter sound.

To Lucia this is big deal.

'To think bringing Maura would make Shiori laugh like that...'

Honestly speaking he is amazed how he made the right choice. This was beyond his expectation. He expected the two to have similarities but Shiori may find it uncomfortable whenever Maura makes dirty jokes.

But no.

Shiori actually like the gag between them as duo. Shiori faces Maura and bows. "Please continue to be Niisan's friend even though he is awkward." Maura crosses his arm looking proud. "Sure~ I'll make him bigger."

Shiori tilt her head. "Bigger?"

Lucia violent reaction. "Maura!"

Maura shuts the two of them. "Bigger! So he doesn't have to be forever introvert! I will make his circle of friends bigger~!"

Shiori giggles a bit as she puts a hand to her chest not to get too excited. "Ah I see, so that's what you meant."

Noticing the time clock, Lucia made a apologetic face as he has to tell Shiori that it's time for goodnight sleep.

"Shiori we got to be going."

Shiori knows happiness does not lasts as long as she is sickly. "I know Niisan." However somehow she didn't look depress than usual. More like a bit tired she had fun even just for a quick moment. Maura stretches his hands, seems to be feeling tired as well. "Hmm~ is the rooftop accessible for patients?"

Shiori happily reveals the info. "Yes. Sometimes the nurses will take me up there for fresh air. Even Niisan said the moonlight is pretty!"

Lucia smiles at the fact Shiori is being a chatterbox.

'I'm glad Shiori likes Maura.' Because of this, he is willing to use Maura to take away Shiori's boredom. Although it means he has to sacrifice his privacy due to Maura's mandatory harassments. With that Maura waves goodbye to Shiori who also waves goodbye. Maura watched Lucia and Shiori hugs each other as Lucia the typical siscon kisses Shiori's forehead.

"Goodnight Shiori."

Then Shiori kisses Lucia's cheeks.

"Chu~! Goodnight Niisan, I love you."

Somehow that made Maura a bit envious.

Maura exits the room and closes the door, crossing his legs and fidgeting his fingers behind his back as he gazes down the floor. "Its nice to have someone kiss you goodnight..." He remembered when he was found by Leon, the man never kissed him goodnight but he got embraced by him to sleep into the warmth.

That made Maura a bit lonely and missing it. 'If only Leon-sama actually loved me...' His thoughts were interrupted when Lucia finally exits the room. With instant offer. "Lets get you home." Maura eyes closed he uses his typical formal smile as he declines politely.

"No you go first."

That's strange.

"Why?"

Usually Maura is so eager to have Lucia take him home safely.

What could be the reason he rejects this now?

Lucia not understanding Maura's mood swings made a confused face.

Maura on the other half lied to shoo Lucia away.

"I have a check up."

Skeptical. "At this hour?"

"Yeah." Maura did not stutter.

Lucia curious. "Is that why you ask to go here?"

"Yes." Maura did not waver.

Lucia felt like scratching his head but he didn't let his emotions to get better at him so he kept it stoic.

"Ok..."

Maura waves at him even though they are not even 1 centimeter away yet. As if Maura want's to hurry to part ways.

"See you tomorrow."

Since Yonazuki Lucia is dense he oblige.

"I see. Alright then."

Turning his back, Maura did not even bother to watch him leave.

Maura quickly turn his back.

The two have their backs turned at each other as Maura disappears into the dark hallway while Lucia goes to the hallway with lights.

Lucia stops halfway and looks back.

Maura never bother to stop until he reaches the wall where you have to U-turn to reach the staircase.

'Wait...staircase?'

If Maura will have check up, he should be going to the office service desk. Also Lucia had been hanging around this hospital for at least a year, he already know which floors has doctors, which floors are rooms and which floors are storage only.

The direction Maura is heading is actually.

((Gasps))

Lucia realized something. 'Why did Maura ask about the access on rooftop...?' Yonazuki Lucia thinks. 'This floor Shiori resides is the 11thflr. The rooftop is at the 12thflr.' Meaning Maura going to the staircase meant he will go to the rooftop. Lucia remember what books Maura had recently been reading.

'Could it be...he's going to...!'

.

.

.

.

.

'Hahh, hahh, hahh!'

Lucia not suppose to be running too fast, he went up the staircase.

'If my intuition is right...!'

Finally reaching the big door, Lucia opens it with all his strength. Eyes alerted. Yonazuki Lucia got to the hospital's rooftop. Tonight the moon is a perfect shape of round. It's moonlight rays revealed Maura Abelard standing near the edge of the building.

Lucia's heart pounds in panic the moment he knew what is Maura planning to do.

"Maura!"

Maura slowly turns his head, his despairing purple eyes reveals the message of death.

Maura jumps.

"MAURA...!"


TO BE CONTINUED


Notes: I thank Shin07 for our recent Maurucia collab. Shin07 also helped me adding more gag at this fanfic! Tottemo arigatouuu!

**CAN'T PROMISE TO FINISH BUT HOPE YOU STILL APPRECIATE THIS FANFIC EVER EXISTED TO HELP SHADOWVERSE FANDOM LIVE ON**