Authors Note: I do not own Oshi No Ko, all rights belong to their original copyright holder
This is it, the final chapter before I head back to work. Originally this was going to be longer, but to apologize for having to go absent for a bit, I cut this chapter in half, especially after the rather depressing last chapter. Taking in my work schedule, as well as how much I should be able to write in a day, Chapter 7 will hopefully be out around July 4th. Things can change of course, but that is what I'm currently aiming for.
Also I do have a more erotic filled Oshi No Ko Story out called "When the Crow Calls" if anyone is interested in more pure sex than anything else.
Thanks for reading as always.
The sound of a fan could be heard in the small room as Aqua laid on his back, sweat running down his face as his breathing was slow and the world around him was nothing but darkness. Nightmares tormented his brain, as he twisted and turned every which way.
Please sensei, I'm here, I promise you everything is okay!
Suddenly a faint and familiar voice rang out in his head, pushing through the darkness of his nightmares as Aqua's head gently moved to the side, his mouth opening as images flashed through his brain.
Sensei, I love you.
The voice and images slowly came together, forming a picture in his head as the nightmare was pushed back more and more…
Sensei, please marry me!
The nightmare was finally pushed back as the figure came into full view, her blond hair fluttering in the wond as she looked at Aqua with her two eyes full of light and gave a wide smile, as she reached a hand out towards him.
Aqua simply stared at her, before reaching his own hand out as he gently grasped her hand, as words leaked out from his mouth and to the air around…
"...S-Sarina…" Aqua pushed the words out as the woman in front of him smiled even louder, as she pulled him in for a hug, as the darkness all around him slowly vanished and was replaced by pure light…
…
..
Slowly, Aqua's eyes opened gently, looking up at the ceiling above him. He was laying in some kind of bed, and a metal fan was aimed directly at him. The light above was turned off, with the only source of light coming from a lamb beside the bed and atop a nightstand.
As Aqua's focus slowly returned to him, he began to recognize where he was as he looked around. "T-This is…"
"Mmm…S-Sensei…" Aqua heard another sound as his head looked down towards the foot of the bed. Sitting beside of the bed, with her head laying on it fast asleep was Ruby, dressed in just a pink tanktop and shorts. Her head was laying atop where Aqua's feet currently laid, as her phone and a manga were laying beside her face.
It seemed she was staying in here with him, before she fell asleep herself. Slowly, in an effort not to wake her up, Aqua pushed himself up into a sitting position, which took more effort than he thought it would due to having almost no strength. Once he had pushed himself up, he looked down and noticed he had also been changed into a different outfit. Gone was his school uniform, and instead a aqua blue shirt and blue shorts adjourned his body.
Letting a small sigh escape his mouth, Aqua looked at the night stand next to him and noticed his phone, as he reached over and picked it up as he turned it on, revealing the time was three-thirty in the morning.
Aqua couldn't believe he had been passed out for an entire day, but he was even more shocked at the date. According to his phone, it had been almost three days since he passed out in the school bathroom.
Had it…Really been that long? That would explain the lack of energy, especially since it was doubtful he had eaten anything since he passed out. More than likely, a doctor had been called and just been administering an IV into him everyday.
Leaning his head back against the wall behind him, Aqua just shook his head in annoyance. Once again, he had caused trouble for people.
Just like he always did.
Raising a hand to massage his temple, Aqua then looked down at Ruby and sighed through his nose. Knowing her, she had been watching over him since he passed out, which only made feel him feel even more guilty.
Though…A part of him also felt happy…He couldn't explain why, nor could he explain how he could feel happiness of all things in a situation like this.
He was a doctor, not a psychiatrist.
Sucking in a deep breath, Aqua collected all of the energy he could as he slowly pulled his feet in, letting Ruby's head gently fall onto the bed as she stayed asleep. She had always been a heavy sleeper, but Aqua wouldn't be shocked if she was even more tired than usual with having to deal with his sorry ass.
Pulling his legs up to him, Aqua gently pushed the covers off of him before he turned to the side and let his legs dangle off of the bed and to the red carpet below. No doubt about it, he was in Ruby's room, asleep in her bed.
Shaking his head once again, Aqua gently pressed his feet against the ground and pushed himself up as he wobbled, having to hold onto the wall from falling over. It seemed all of his energy was completely gone, just standing here was straining his legs.
Any ideas he had of picking Ruby up and putting her in the bed himself was a pipe dream at the moment.
Slowly, Aqua raised a foot and stepped forward, leaning on the wall as he did as a jolt of pain stiffened in his leg from not moving for three straight days. Pushing through it the best he could, Aqua raised his other foot and stepped forward once again, more pain coursing through him as he continued to lean on the wall and other stuff in Ruby's room so he could get to the door.
His destination was downstairs and to the kitchen, if he could eat something, maybe he could get more of his energy back.
The walk to the door was excrutiating, every step took almost a minute or two as his breathing got worse and worse, a headache not helping matters as he suddenly slapped himself across the face. "...Come on Aqua…You can do this…"
He said to himself to motivate as he kept pushing, kept walking, before finally reaching the doorframe as he leaned against it. He reached up and wiped sweat off of his forehead as he gave a nod, now he just had to get to the steps.
Grabbing the door and slowly pushing it open, Aqua stepped out into the wall as he leaned against the wall, each step hurting more and more as his body revolted from not having an ounce of energy in it.
He wanted to fall down.
He wanted to give up.
But he couldn't.
He had to eat something and get his energy back.
Because…He couldn't keep being a burden to Ruby by keeping his lazy ass in bed.
That was his thought process in any case.
Pushing against the wall, Aqua stumbled forward as he grabbed onto the railing. He just had to take it, one step at a time.
Aqua slowly raised his foot, and placed it on the step, shaky hands holding onto the rail still. Next he raised his other foot and went to step onto the next one-
Only for his foot on the step to give out, as he attempted to hold onto the rail the best he could before he just tumbled down the entire staircase. His body rolled hard against the wooden steps, as his head slammed against the staircase, cutting it open, before his body flopped onto the ground below.
For a moment, Aqua just laid there in extreme pain, his body shaking and hurting all over as blood began to pour out from the gash on his head. Slowly however, Aqua turned over and laid on his back as he looked at the ceiling above, blood running down his face as he balled his hand and slammed it against the floor with the most strength that he could muster.
"...Fuck…" He muttered out, waiting for either Ruby or Miyako to come rushing out. However, neither of them did. Was it because they were both tired out from taking care of him, or did he not make much of a sound?
A sick part of him wanted to say it was because they didn't care, but not even he could believe a lie that blatant.
Reaching up with a shaky hand, Aqua wiped his forehead and brought his hand down, blood covering it as he sighed. Slowly, despite the pain, Aqua pushed himself up to a sitting position as he looked over to the kitchen, and began to crawl over towards it.
It wasn't as taxing as standing, though it still didn't particularly feel the greatest as Aqua made his way to the kitchen, as he grabbed onto a chair and pulled himself into it as he sat down on it. His face was covered by blood, and quite a bit of it had dripped onto the floor. Reaching over, he grabbed a paper towel and wiped his face off before pressing it against his cut as he leaned back in his chair.
He would have to mop that blood up once he got his energy back, he thought. As he sat there, Aqua looked up at the clock above the fridge.
Four in the morning, this entire ordeal had somehow taken him a half hour to get from Ruby's bed to the kitchen.
Slowly taking the paper towel off of his head, Aqua threw it onto the table as he looked at the fridge in front of him.
He was close, he would just have to eat something.
Then he could…Clean up…And put Ruby to bed…
Aqua's vision began to fade, as he shook his head and attempted to get up.
"N-No…D-Dammit…" He had to…
He had to…
His body began to lose what evergy it had, as his eyes slowly closed in the chair he was sitting in as he drifted off into the world of dreams.
He tried to fight it.
He didn't want to sleep.
He had to stay awake.
He had to…So he wouldn't be a burden to Ruby…
Be a burden…To Sarina…
….
..
..
….Aqua…..
…Aqua….
….Aqua…
…Aqua!
Aqua's eyes slowly opened as he looked up, his vision blurry as two people hung over him. One of them was calling out his name, as he opened his mouth to talk before closing it back, taking a deep breath as he raised a hand and rubbed one of his eyes.
As he did so, his vision began to readjust itself as he finally recognized the two people above him. One was his adopted mother, Miayko Saitou who had a worried look on her face as she held a rag to his forehead.
The other, of course, was Ruby. Tears stained her face, as she had both of her hands on his shoulders as she called out to him. "Oh thank God…A-Aqua! W-What are you doing down here!?"
Ruby said with fear in her voice, as Aqua just looked at her and sucked in air before speaking the best he could. "I…C-Came to get food…"
"H-Huh? W-Why didn't you wake me up!?" Ruby's voice was full of fear and anger, her nails sinking deeper into his shoulders as she looked out at the blood on the floor. "W-What happened to you…?"
"...I fell down the stairs…That's all…"
"T-That's all? Y-You could be seriously hurt! Y-You should of woken me up-"
"You've burdened yourself enough the past three days…I…Wanted to get my energy back…So I wouldn't be burdening you…" Aqua pushed the words out as Ruby's eyes went wide, before tears began to fill them even more as they fell down her face.
"A-Aqua you…You idiot!" Ruby yelled before she suddenly pulled him into a hug, as Miyako held the back of his head with one hand, and a cold rag on his forehead with the other. She gently pulled it off, looking at the dried blood on it and his forehead as she sighed.
"You're lucky that cut wasn't worst, I woke up this morning and went to make coffee when I found you passed out in the chair with a blood trail, and it wasn't long after I went to quickly tend to you that Ruby came rushing down when she realized you were missing." Miyako stated matter of factly as she walked over to the kitchen sink, turning it on as she washed the blood out of the rag, as Ruby kept Aqua pulled into a hug.
As Ruby hugged his neck, Aqua casualy moved his eyes up to the clock hanging on the wall.
Six-Thirty in the morning, two and a half hours since he passed out.
Trailing his eyes downward, Aqua noticed his shirt and shorts had been stained in blood from where his forehead was leaking out, and he could probably guess his face was the same as well, unless Miyako or Ruby had washed it off.
Finally, Ruby pushed herself off of Aqua as she wiped her face clear of the tears, as she turned towards Miyako. "I-I'll get him some clean clothes…"
She said as she quickly ran away and up the steps, as Aqua watched her with a hint of sadness in his eyes before he closed them and sighed.
"What a pain…" Aqua muttered to himself, as Miyako looked over at him with a glare.
"Aqua, I may not be your real mother and I know you don't see me as your real mother…But what you did this morning was so stupid. I don't know if I've ever seen Ruby that upset, not since…Not since about ten years ago."
"...She'll get over it, she's always been head strong."
"That's not the point Aqua, you could have seriously hurt yourself! Or worse! How would Ruby feel if she lost her brother? Did you think about that?"
"That's-"
The reason I love you is because you were always with me…
Aqua stopped his words as the text message Ruby had sent him rang out in his ears, his eyes going wide for a moment before lowering as he sighed.
"...Y-You're right…Sorry…" Aqua coughed out the words, surprising Miyako some as she sighed through her nose and shook her head.
"Just next time Aqua, please think before acting, otherwise…You may not be able to say sorry." Miyako said with a stern but gentle voice as she walked over and Gave Aqua a hug also, patting him on the back before raising herself.
It wasn't long after that, that Ruby came running down the stairs with a new outfit as she laid it on the table as Aqua looked over at it. It was a plain white shirt, along with black shorts.
Moving his attention, he looked back up at Ruby, who still had tears in her eyes as he opened his mouth and spoke gently. "R-Ruby I'm…I'm Sorry…"
"E-Eh?" Ruby seemed taken aback by Aqua's apology, as she looked down at the ground and shook her head. "I-It's ok…Aqua…"
Miyako gave a smile to the two siblings, before she opened up one of her cabinets and groaned. "Great, I really don't have any ointment? Ruby, can you watch over Aqua while I head to the pharmacy real quick?"
"H-Huh? Oh yeah, that's fine…" Miyako nodded and gave a small thanks to Ruby as she quickly grabbed her purse, promising them it wouldn't take just a few minutes to run down the street and then back, before she left through the door.
As soon as she left, the two of them awkwardly stayed next to one another, as Ruby looked to the side and lowered her eyes.
"Sensei-"
"Sarina…" Aqua interrupted her, causing her to raise her head and blush at her name. "I…Really am sorry, you know. I checked my phone and seen it had been almost three days since I passed out, and then I saw you sleeping at the edge of the bed so I kinda just figured you had been watching over me since."
"So? I wasn't forced to, you know?"
"Even still, I was a burden on you…A man who can't control his own emotions and has a breakdown just remembering your old life. A man who has more darkness in him that one should ever experience in a lifetime." Aqua's words were cold, as he gently leaned over and folded his hands.
"...You muttered alot in your sleep, sensei. Things Like Ai…Sarina…And…Revenge…And Death…And Kill him…" Ruby talked gently as she walked over and placed a hand on Aqua's shoulder. "Sensei…Who are you talking about?"
"...It's none of your concern."
"What? Don't give me that!" Ruby yelled as she got in front of Aqua and grabbed both of his shoulders. "I love you sensei, your problems are my problems! If someone has wronged you, please just…Tell me…"
"...I can't…I can't get my sister involved-"
"Then don't tell me as a brother, tell me as a lover!" Ruby yelled back, as Aqua's hands stiffened and he kept avoiding her gaze.
"Y-You don't want me as a lover Ruby, you only love Gouro! Aqua Hoshino isn't the same man who cared for you, spent everyday with, who was there with you when you died! Aqua Hoshino is the failed excuse of a son of-"
Slap
As Aqua was ranting, suddenly he felt a hand hit across his cheek, leaving it stinging as he gently reached up and touched it with his hand, before turning and looking at Ruby, who had more tears in her eyes as she spoke with both determination and anger. "Don't give me any of that sensei! You and Gouro are one in the same! You share the same memories right? You share the same emotions, the same likes and dislikes, the same everything! How do I know? Because I'm the same as you! I'm Ruby Hoshino, but I'm also Sarina Tendouji!"
"Y-You never went through puberty in your last life! This life is basically an extension of your past life! Meanwhile Aqua Hoshino might as well be a completely new-"
"I saw…I still see it…I see the man I love in you still, Sensei! Even now, I see…I can totally see Gouro telling me to just shut up, not worry about anything, and just watch videos of Ai." Ruby said with a small smile as she cupped Aqua's face, as she leaned in and gently sat down on Aqua's lap.
"R-Ruby-" Before Aqua could say anymore, Ruby placed a single finger over Aqua's lips, as she just gave a small smile to him.
"I know you have pain in your heart sensei, and I know you think you're a burden to me. But even if I have to say it a hundred, a thousand, or even ten-thousand times…I'll keep saying it until you get it through that thick skull of yours…I love you, I always will love you, and you can never be a burden to me. I don't want you to kill or get revenge on anybody, but what you do at the end of the day is ultimately your choice. All I ask is that you don't give into the darkness in your heart, and instead rely on me, to be your light."
"R-Rely…On you?" Ruby gave a soft smile as she raised her other hand and cupped Aqua's other Cheek, as Ruby said with a large smile.
"Rely on me, until you can find your own light." As Ruby said this, she slowly leaned her face in, closing her eyes as Aqua just watched her.
He didn't move himself or say anything, he just closed his eyes also and thought.
Her words ran through his head.
Rely on me, until you can find your own light.
As he thought this, he suddenly felt Ruby's lips press against his nose, as she held her kiss for a few seconds before breaking off and laying her head on his shoulder as she continued to sit in his lap.
Aqua just sat there with her, before slowly raising his arms and wrapping them around her, keeping her in place as the two of them cuddled on the kitchen chair. Slowly Aqua opened his eyes, and looked out to the world.
His eyes held a faint light in both of them, as he thought about the girl sitting in his lap and comforting him. "S-Sarina…I lo-"
Ding Dong
Before Aqua could push the words out, the doorbell to the aparment suddenly rang as both of them stiffened up as Ruby quickly jumped off of Aqua and to the main floor. "U-Uh, I'll get it!"
Ruby stuttered out as she brushed herself off and quickly ran to the door, as Aqua sat by himself in the kitchen chair, his eyes slowly returning to being completely blank. "...Right…"
As Ruby ran to the door, she kept brushing off her and attempting to downplay her blush as she took a deep breath and walked over towards the door, as she opened it halfway before the door lock stopped it as she looked to see who it was. "Hey Ruby-chan, how are you?"
Ruby was somewhat surprised by who was behind the door, yet quickly reached up and unlocked the door chain as she pulled the door open. "H-Hey, Akane-senpai…"
Standing on the other side of the door was Akane, her green eyes staring directly into Ruby's as she tilted her head. "I'm sorry for dropping by unannounced, but I've been trying to get ahold of Aqua for the past few days and heard nothing back. Rehearsal is later today, so I wanted to make sure he was alright."
"O-Oh…" Ruby looked a bit downtrodden, as Akane tilted her head the other way as Ruby folded her hands in front of her. "Oniichan uh…Passed out a few days ago and has been bedridden."
"W-What? Is he ok?" Akane pulled back in shock, as she placed her hands in front of her as a look of worry crepy onto her face.
"W-Well he's still recovering, but he's finally awake! W-Want me to tell him you're here?" Akane looked a bit conflicted but gave a small nod.
"Yes please, I want to make sure he's alright." Ruby nodded as she turned away and bit down on her lip as she walked back over towards the table and looked at Aqua.
"A-Oniichan, Akane wants to see you." Aqua raised an eyebrow, but gave a sigh and a nod as he motioned for her to come on in. Ruby nodded back as she went over and told Akane, and after a moment, Akane came into his view as she seemed taken aback by how he looked.
"A-Aqua you look…Awful…" Akane said as she looked at his exhausted face, blood seeped clothes and the cut on his forehead. She walked over towards him and laid a hand on his shoulder as she bent down. "How are you feeling?"
"I feel fine, just some rest and food and I should be back on my feet in a couple days at most." Aqua said with a tired but firm voice, as Akane gave a small smile of relief.
"Well that's good to hear, you weren't responding to your phone so I got worried. Especially after you missed practice the other day, I thought something might have happened. But I'm glad to hear you'll be better soon, even if you don't look like it…But, what happened? How did you pass out?"
Aqua looked up into Akane's eyes as he narrowed his before shrugging. "Stress from the play and all, have a lot on my plate. It's nothing for you to worry about though, I should be back at rehearsal next time."
"A-Ah right, of course! I'll be sure to tell the producer! If you want, we could go somewhere to eat that day before practice." Akane said with a cheerful smile, as Ruby stiffened up some but didn't say anything, knowing Aqua would accept to keep up the public persona Akane and he had established.
However…
"I'm good, I'll just meet you at the theater." Aqua rejected her offer, as Ruby relaxed some and looked up with shocked eyes as Akane even seemed taken aback.
"O-Oh um…Alright, that's fine." A bit of hurt was in her voice, but she pushed through it as she kept her smile on. "Then how about after rehearsal-"
"Again, I'm good." Once again Aqua shot her down as Akane's expression fell even more, her eyes looking down towards the ground as she gulped.
"R-Right, I mean of course, as you said you have alot on your plate…Um…W-Well I should be going then! I just came to make sure you were alright and all…I-I'll tell Producer Kaburagi that you passed out from stress."
Aqua just nodded in response as Akane backed up and bowed towards him, before turning around and giving a goodbye to Ruby before she quickly left the apartment as the two siblings were once again left alone.
The two of them didn't say anything for a couple of minutes, awkwardly looking around before Ruby walked over to Aqua. "S-She looked really hurt sensei…"
"...We're just in a work relationship, the sooner she learns that, the better." Was all Aqua said, as he placed a hand on the table and began to push himself up to his feet.
"H-Hey Sensei!" Ruby ran over and placed his arm over her neck to support him. "Geez, atleast wait for Miyako! I'm not strong enough to carry you to your room!"
"I didn't get up to go to my room."
"Huh, then-" Ruby was caught off guard as Aqua suddenly cupped her cheek, as he leaned in close to her. "S-Sensei!?"
Ruby's face went a deep red, steam almost emitting from her ears as Aqua just closed his eyes and began to lean forward, as Ruby looked on in total embarrassment as she also closed her eyes, readying herself the best she could before-
Aqua's lips landed on her nose as he kissed it, before pulling back and patting her shoulder. "There, now we're even."
"E-Eh…?" Ruby just looked at him for a moment before raising a hand to her nose, before a strong blush suddenly overcame her. "S-Sensei! D-Don't tease me like that!"
As Ruby pouted, Aqua could only smirk, his eyes once again shining faintly as he looked up to the ceiling.
I may not have my own light, but…Perhaps I can truly…Rely on Sarina…
