Review Responses:
pretty-on-point: Thank you so much for your kind words about Klaus's death! But no, haha, Klaus really did die of natural(?) causes in this case. And that is a great question! Alice's grandfather isn't going to be playing a big role in this story, but he just had something similar to a really bad cold! He doesn't require medication at all times or else he'll die, hence why he's alive and well and not medicine-reliant when we saw him in the previous chapter! And haha, yep, Shun is back! Let's see what he has to say, hmm? つ﹏⊂
Innocent-Diamond: That's a good theory, but Klaus really is dead in this story from now on. ^^; Also, not me forgetting that Alice is supposed to wear black for a period of time to express that she's mourning. (⊙ˍ⊙) Shun doesn't really say much about his whereabouts in this chapter, but he does have things to say, so please continue to read! －O－
MagicxMusicxMelody: I mentioned it in the previous chapter that Alice thinks that the reason why so many men are visiting her was because of Klaus's money - everything that Klaus owned was now hers! And yes! Shun is superior to the other men ￣へ￣
cherry-tree-of-life: I'm not a really creative person, so Klaus died a rather boring death...lol. But that's so clever - the KlausxAlice ship sinking. BUT! But for them to be a ship, they first must have mutual love for each other - which they don't because Shurisu supremacy. ಠ╭╮ಠ There aren't as many explaining done in this chapter, but there will be in the next few chapters, so please stay tuned for that! (p≧w≦q)
Guest: Thank you for letting me know that the Titanic sank 111 years ago! This work is set in the Elizabethan era, so obviously, the Titanic wasn't even built during that time period. ^^;
Guest: Thank you so much for your kind words! Also! Even though this work does have cheating in it and it may not look like it, but I really do NOT condone cheating! THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION BUT PLEASE DO NOT CHEAT IN REAL LIFE! （；´д｀）ゞ
Chapter 12
"Alice." Her head snapped up, her breath caught in her throat.
"Shun."
A small smile graced his lips as he parted them, about to speak. She interrupted him before he could even utter a word out.
"Where were you?" A whisper so quiet that it could barely be heard, escaped her lips.
"What?" The raven-haired male asked, confused.
"Where. Were. You." The redhead enunciated each word slowly as she rose from her seat, her eyes locked on her lover.
"I - "
"Where were you when everyone spoke ill of us? Where were you when Klaus died?" She stalked across the room to where Shun was standing, panting as her anger was getting the best of her. "Where were you when the funeral was held? Where were you when...when I needed you?" Tears were streaming down her face as she whispered that last sentence. Her knees gave out, and she was about to collapse to the floor had it not been for Shun.
"I never left." He answered rather harshly as he clutched onto her arms to support her. "I was there the entire time. I know that it seemed like I left, but I would never leave you. Not again. Not ever. Not if I can help it." Shun whispered, sincerity lacing his voice.
"Then...Then where were you?" She repeated through her tears. "Why couldn't you have visited me?"
"I couldn't visit you because - " He began.
"Be - Because what?" She interrupted. "If...If you really did never leave, then why couldn't you come through my window and check in on me? Why couldn't you have come to visit me when I came back home to Grandfather's?" She felt her anger coming back to her, while simultaneously feeling incredibly tired. Her emotions were conspiring against her. That must be the reason why she's feeling all sorts of different emotions. She was angry at Shun for not being physically there when she needed him. She was relieved to see him again after months apart. She wanted to scream at him and tell him to leave her alone, to never come back into her life again. She wanted to hold him close and never let him go. She felt as if a fire was burning inside of her with him near her. She felt as if she could finally breathe again now that he finally reappeared once again into her life.
Then again, she supposes, this is what love must be like. Love. What a complicated word.
"Because you would have told me to leave." His declaration stunned her into silence. "If I had come to visit you after Klaus came into your room and confronted you about us, then you would have asked me to leave. That it was wrong of us to continue. That we couldn't be together." The raven-haired male whispered the last sentence, as if he was worried about the them never being together. "And I...I didn't want that."
"You...You were there when Klaus asked me about us." Alice parroted back, her mind spinning.
"Of course. I was always where you were."
"Then...Then you must have heard me telling him how much I love you."
"How could I forget?" A small smile graced Shun's lips at the memory. "You said you couldn't imagine the day you won't ever love me."
"Then..." She swallowed her tears. "Then wasn't that proof enough? That I wouldn't have asked you to leave? That you could have come and visited me?"
"I know." He whispered, wiping a tear that ran down her cheek. "But I was still so worried. You and Klaus were growing closer, and I was worried that you'd forget about me. Even when you told Klaus that you didn't love him romantically after the two of you became friends. I wanted to come back to you, really, I did. But then...But then he died. I wanted to give you time to grieve over him. Even if you didn't love him as a lover, I knew that if I did come back, you would have told me to leave. You would have blamed our actions for his death."
"I never...I never blamed us for his death. The thought really never crossed my mind. It should have." She scoffed at the irony - the one thing that was worth blaming herself for, she didn't even do. "Shun, I understand why you were so hesitant to come back, but..." Alice looked up at him for the first time since he came into the room. "But surely, you must have more confidence in our love, no? I wouldn't have given up on us that easily."
"I know." Shun murmured, leaning down so that their foreheads touched. "I know. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you."
"I think...I think you should leave."
"What?" He startled, breaking away from their embrace. "Alice - "
"I am awfully tired, and I am in need of a nap. It would be best if you see yourself out. I will expect to see you very soon, yes?" The redhead stated firmly. It would have been convincing had it not been for the mischievous glint in her eyes.
...
"Soon, I will in my room for a nap. Please don't wake me up for lunch - I should be awake by the time dinner comes along." The von Hertzon widow informed, en route to her bedroom.
"Yes, Mrs. von Hertzon. I take it that your visitor has left?" The maid asked, shifting the laundry basket from one arm to the other.
"He should have left some time ago, yes."
"Do you...Do you suppose he'll be back, Mrs. von Hertzon?"
The redhead paused. "I do not know, Soon. But I won't allow any other visitors to come in - I do not want to endure another courting attempt after him."
...
"Have you not been sleeping enough?" Her childhood lover asked, tracing nonsensical patterns on her arm. The two of them were curled up in her bed in a tangle of limbs and blankets, just like they were many, many months ago. Alice hadn't realized how much she really missed having Shun's body next to hers until that moment.
"I don't know. I'm sure I doze off, but I don't know if I ever really did fall asleep." She replied, truthfully. "I'm truly feeling sleepy right now." And she was. Listening to his strong and steady heartbeat, the redhead felt her eyelids growing heavier and heavier by the second.
"Am I boring you to sleep?" The raven-haired male asked, amusement in his voice.
"Never." She shook her head. "Stay with me?" Alice murmured, burrowing herself as close as she possibly could to Shun.
"Always."
End of Chapter 12.
Note: *gasps* Another chapter that didn't take months to be updated! I am on a ROLL. ＼（〇_ｏ）／
Hello, friends, I hope that you're all doing well! I just wanted to apologize ahead of time for how badly written this chapter is - I've been incredibly busy this past month! I've been going out at least once a week - please pray for my wallet - that I haven't had the time to truly sit down and write. Hence why this chapter seems slightly rushed and rather last minute - I want to still maintain my goal of updating a work once a month, so here I am. Please accept my humble offering and sorry excuse of word soup disguised as a chapter. ○|￣|_\
But anyways! Shun is back! And...Alice was angry?! To be honest, would you blame her? If my lover came back to me after making me SUFFER, I'd be angry too. BUT! But they made up! That's what true love looks like kids - even when you're mad at them, you still can't imagine life without them. When will I have what Shurisu have? (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)
Also, did anybody catch the subtlety in the conversation between Alice and Soon? Eh, eh? (ﾉ*ФωФ)ﾉ
As always, please let me know what you thought of this chapter, and I will see you in the next one! Bye~! (～o￣3￣)～