When All Was Lost...
Chapter Sixty-Four
64
"That should do it..." said Crow, "The kids should be safe now..."
"Crow...I'm sorry...I should have left-"
"And what? Fight alone?" he scoffed, "No way I would ever let that happen..." he stated, "I left you alone before, and it got you taken away." he stated, "I will not let something like that happen again...not by the Aracadia Movement...and not by Kai." he declared, "Had you been alone and had no one supporting you, or fighting for you...or protecting you- I'd never forgive myself...Especially not knowing I could have done something about it!" He sat next to her on the bed, taking her hand in his.
"You're not gonna be alone..." he said to her, "And that's final..."
"Crow...Thank you..." She smiled weakly, trembling fingers softly curling into his hand...
He noticed.
And it wasn't just her fingers that were shaking...
He noticed that too...
His eyes narrowed and he squeezed her hand a little tighter...
Silent for the moment...
He wanted to say something...anything that could help her with everything going on in her head...
But when he couldn't think of the words...
He took action instead.
That hand he held...he gripped it tightly, clenching his teeth, biting his tongue as he tugged her in to him and wrapped her smaller, trembling body up in both arms.
"...Crow...?"
"I know you better than anyone..." he said to her firmly, "I know when you're happy...when you're sad, angry...I know when you're lying...and faking- putting up a strong front when I know you really just want to cry..." he said to her, speaking soft murmerings in her ear.
"...There's no one else here, Akarii..." he stated, "The kids aren't here...Yusei and Jack aren't here...it's just us..." he said to her, "...And you don't have to fake it with me." he said to her while he held her a little tighter.
Her eyes narrowed sadly...trembling arms wrapped up around him, and slender fingers gripping into his vest.
"If you wanna cry...then just cry."
"...I'm scared, Crow..." she finally admitted into his shoulder...
"...I know..." anger boiled within him.
Not because of her...
Not because she was afraid...
But because she was afraid...and he was powerless to do anything about it.
She was hurting and he was powerless to heal the wounds that her brother had ripped into her.
Kai didn't mean it-
He could say that-
But was there even any meddle in that being true?
Kai was always kind and gentle...he took care of them all, and even helped Martha- their foster mother... when she took them all in-
But often times it's the kindest souls with the brightest smiled that held on to and fought against the darkest demons...
"Akarii-"
What could he say?
What could he even do?
Besides sit here and hold her like this...and let her cry into his chest...
And remind her...that even if what her brother said was true-
She still had someone who cared... Someone who...
"I...I'm not gonna sugarcoat it, and say that Kai was lying." he said softly, "Because I simply just don't know...and I don't think giving you false hope is going to help here..." he sighed, "But...What I can tell you...is that it's not your fault." he said, "It's not okay...but it IS okay...for you to not be okay...okay?"
"Crow? Do you even know what you're saying right now?"
"Yeah well you know me...I've never been the best at words or whatever.." he chuckled, "But I want you to know...that the brother you knew and loved. He WAS real. and he DID love you...infact...I's fairly certain he still does...even if he can't see it right now..." he sighed, "Even if he didn't..." he pulled away slowly, his heart pounding against his chest...he placed his hands on her face and moved it towards him"You know you've got other brothers who do...I D-" he stopped, holding his gaze on her eyes while her eyes got wide...
She could feel her cheeks burning a little hotter.
Was he saying...?
"Akarii...what's up with your eyes?" he asked randomly, pulling her right out of the moment and into...well...a better word for it would be disappointment...
"Come again?" she blinked.
"Your eyes, Akarii- they're like...all glowy and junk-"
"Wait...what?" She blinked curiously and hurried up from the bed to look into the dirty mirror and gasp.
"Your arm!"
"My wha-AHHH!" she let out a scream of pain and quickly gripped her arm to her chest. A burning sensation came from it...and an intense glow... matching the one in her eyes... and suddenly...she could see it.
XXXXX
The Ocean waves were crashing on a rocky shore...
There was scattered garbage and debris that often floated in from the ocean...
There was an old building just at the end...
Dark and rotted...falling apart...
She recognized this place...
"When our time comes...you will know where to find me."
XXXXX
The vision faded away...
The light dimmed in her eyes and her vision blurred back into the reality at hand.
"Akarii? Hey- Akarii!"
Crow's voice suddenly broke through the rinking in her hand, pulling her attention back to him
"Akarii...what was that?" he asked her, "What the hell happened to you just now?"
"Crow...I think..." she blinked slowly and turned her gaze onto him, "I think my time...has come."
"...Excuse me?" Crow blinked, "What do you mean your time has- Ahhh!"
Suddenly their little shack flashed like a strobe light and vibrant purple light glowed on violet flames just outside the window...
In a panic the two friends hurry to the door to see what the commotion was...And before them was a path.
A road...
Lit up and guided with by the purple fire...
Akarii's eyes narrowed.
This had to be Kai's invitation.
...He was summoning her now...for the last time.
To be Continued