Fic time~ I had so many brainworms from ch22. I needed to put this down.
A twisting, thorny vine pierced through a delicate soul; Its branches wrapped around it like a prison. The flowers that grew from them seeped an insidious poison. Sickly sweet, whispering destruction in every breath.
The poison- no, venom dripped on the soul, pumping it with its influence.
What's with those eyes? Ah, of course it's those eyes.
He c͉͆an’̙͒t s̲͋t̪̏a̮͘ȳ̦͍͋.
Thank god Kaito and Luca were understanding. Running out after Uriel was uncalled for, but fuck it. Who gives a shit? She has only a week left. Let her do what she wants.
That face… she’s never seen that come out of Uriel, of all people.
There’s only one place he would be, one place where he spends all of his time.
Luna tried opening the door to Uriel’s office, but the doorknob almost burnt her. The door itself was warm to the touch, and not cooling down.
“…You made quite a mess, didn’t you?”
“I don’t have time for you, Kuro.”
Kuzé. Uriel’s best friend. (Or was it Kuro?) She’d met them during that “mission” on the island. Well, she knew about them for a while, but that’s not here nor there.
What does matter, is that she knows that these two are probably the strongest anomalies she knows of. Right above that godamn Kyklos.
“Everything was normal when I walked in, but then I Looked at her!”
That word carried an unexpected weight to it. Like Relic, or Stigma.
“Of course I noticed. How could I not?! I check on everyone as soon as they walk into class!”
“We know your problem, but you will not like our answer.”
“What do you mean by that.”
Luna shivered. Uriel had never spoken with such emotion in his voice. It was always flat, sometimes with irritation.
It reminded her of that night after that mission with Sinostra. When he made that decree.
“You are afraid, love. Afraid to lose. We have seen this before, albeit slightly askew.”
Another person, no- voice. She sounded strong. A rock, like Tohma, but her words were measured; Long pauses between each sentence.
“I was reminded of ██████’s earnest request. He asked that we do not throw our lives away, no matter what happens to each other. I thought he was stating the obvious… I thought I could remain calm and cold. But when I was faced with loss in reality, I simply couldn’t get over it. I’m ashamed of myself for this disgraceful behavior.”
She got the impression that this woman, whoever she was, was going to face her fate with bared teeth.
“Don’t be ridiculous, How could they have any resemblance to me?”
Such hatred… it threw her for a loop.
“You deny your self. This is not true, you know this. How long have you spent with them?
“You forget that it’s against my will.”
“When did you get close to her? When did you ask us that favor? When did you start enjoying her company?”
He… he never liked her? But…
“And we know that to be untrue! If you will not say it, then we shall make you!”
She was there again. The quiet snowfall, the comfy chair, the crackling of a fire, an old book. Uriel’s Name.
He screamed. It sounded so.. robotic. Jerking up octaves like a broken gear.
“Tell us; tell us and yourself how you truly feel about Luna Aikawa.”
It sounded like Uriel was a million miles away.
She was slammed into another scene, another Name.
She sits on a stump in a forest clearing. The sky has wispy clouds ghosting across the blue, blue sky. Birds sing amongst the surrounding trees. The sun kisses her skin, and a gentle breeze flows.
A single spider lily is at her feet. The color feels familiar somehow.
“-I can’t lose her again. Not when I know she can be saved. The curse eats at her soul. I can see it so clearly. Every day she is further corrupted, and soon she will lose herself to that thing. But I can’t help her out of this. It’s not my place; I shouldn’t even be here to watch this happen. But I can’t bear to lose someone I love again.”
There’s a woman on the page. For a second, she thinks she’s a relative of Taiga’s at first, but the hair doesn’t lie straight. It’s a cascade of crimson curls, framing a bright smile in the middle of a laugh.
Her. Gabriel. That name on the song she got from that random email.
As firm and cold as Jin all that time ago.
The door had cooled by now, but Luna was hesitant to open it. What awaited her at the other side? Would he lash out like he did at Kuze? Would he be back to masking his emotions?
I should leave him alone.
Who made her think that? What was that?
Stop it! Get out of my head! If I go in, it’s going to be on my own fucking will! I’m done being a godamn spectator to everything!
Luna opens the door in pure defiance. The doorknob was still warm to the touch.
The room was covered in charcoal black, and the distinct smell of wood smoke radiated from it. The cubicles were destroyed, the painting in the corner was ash, the window behind it was partially melted, and the desk was ruined.
And there, sitting right behind it, was Uriel. Pristine as ever, not even a speck of soot on his white suit.
He was hunched over, his face covered by his hands.
He was… sobbing. Crying. Tears fell onto the carbonized surface of the desk, and disappeared as soon as they struck it.
Uriel looked up at me a beat after I entered.
That other woman, the one that Kuzé quoted, even when she was devastated by grief, still held firm.
“Get out. All appointments are closed today.” He hissed.
He stared at me, then turned to the floor.
I lifted myself to sit on the partially carbonized desk. Uriel looks at my back, then closes his eyes.
I place my hand on his head. He flinches a little at the touch, but doesn’t otherwise move.
“I’m…” I sigh. “I know things seem desperate. But I don’t want you to be like this.”
Even if they’re not human, they still feel human emotions.
“I want you to keep trying. For me, and for Gabriel.”
“Where did you hear that name.”
He sighs, “Of course she did.”
“…I don’t think it’s set in stone yet.”
“A lot can change in a week. And even if I get locked up, I don’t think anything will stop you, will it?”
“Then I dont think you should.”
“Before the time comes, I want to see a painting from you.”
“A painting. I heard that you put your works in progress up on display in here. I want to see one of your finished products before I have to go.”
He looked back at me. Eyes open and staring, “…I see.”
“It shall be done, Luna Aikawa.”
When I leave, there’s an announcement from the school via email: all tutoring appointments are canceled until next week, and Uriel will be absent from all classes.
…I completely understand why.
