Summary: Mieru contemplates the end of the world at her darling’s claws.
Word Count: 399
For Mieru, life has always been written in the stars, a swirl of light inside her crystal apple, or all in the cards. That was until she met Sakaki Yuya: her fated person. He went above, below, and beyond all her expectations which is why, unfortunately, he’s not just her fated person.
He’s everyone’s.
That’s all she can think as she comes to the realisation of destruction around her with a demonic, draconic creature – human – at the centre of it all. The fate of the world was in his ghastly, clawed hands. Yuya: the boy would destroy the world.
She clutches onto her crystal apple tightly. A small comfort as she can do but only watch. She smells the smoke in the air and can hear the dimensions rip and distort: the roar of a dragon in the distance. It’s horrible. She wishes she could do more but she’s powerless. She wishes she could be in the fray but she isn’t a Lancer. She isn’t for a reason.
A sort of arrogant cowardice that grips her. Even though she is certain that if she was there, she would gladly lay down her life for her darling but she didn’t want to. She liked to live. In the midst of all this chaos and destruction, she can’t help but laugh at her own, self-aware selfishness.
She swallows thickly. She wants to believe that it’s not Yuya’s fault. It’s the classic case of nature versus nurture. Yoko is such a sweet mother and everyone knows of how entertaining and gallant Yusho was. Before he disappeared. But that’s Yuya’s nurture: the loving environment that couldn’t properly patch the daemon in his soul.
Mieru loves him nevertheless. Just because he’s not her sole, fated person doesn’t mean she shouldn’t. Even though the destruction of the world teeters at his clawed hands. Even fortune telling could never have accounted for such a surprise. Mieru never would have suspected that the prediction she had summoned forth in their duel all those weeks ago was referring to this: the wreaked havoc, the fate of numerous worlds…
She loves her darling. But Mieru knows the worst has yet to come but if there is anything remarkable about Yuya, it is his ability to wrench fate in the direction he wants to go and Mieru is certain he can prevail against this great evil.
Every morning Mieru would try to divine some news of her darling. Every time she failed: her crystal apple remained dark and clouded.
Every evening she would search for more gemstones and herbs that might strengthen her scrying.
Once she had begged her headteacher for help. But Unno-sensei had smiled sadly and shook her head, saying, “Sometimes destiny hides itself from us. It is our fate not to know.”
Mieru persevered regardless.
-
Then one afternoon the sky was split open by a dragon of darkness and destruction.
The Unno Divination School was filled with shrieks of dismay, as students and staff alike found their art fail them - tarot cards tore, yarrow sticks snapped, crystal balls cracked upon any attempt to divine the nature of the vision.
But Mieru didn’t need divination any more. She recognised that darkness.
She gazed up at what her darling had become, and wept.
The young adventurer mustered his courage and approached the fairy; she looked over him with a lovelorn gaze.
‘I seek the power to save my beloved.’ Yiuya informed her but she already knew; he could see it in her youthful yet wise eyes but there was something else in those eyes that was downcast and almost envious.
‘I understand; I shall give you two choices - a demon or a fiend?’ Mieru replied as she produced a golden coin from one of the pockets in her fancy, decadent dress.
Wanted to take a stab at writing for a pairing I really like, but not in the sense I think most people ship it in. Set kind of post Arc-V, and few points get vague because of that, sorry.
Ship: Fatedshipping
Rating: Slightly T for hinted suggestive themes
Plot: Mieru confronts Yuya about a very infamous and familiar fortune, but not in the way Yuya dreads.
“Darling~!”
The coy call paired with the tap of dress shoes on pavement sent a chill down Yuya's spine.
Mieru had been toting after him for a week now, ever since he arrived home to Standard and Maiami City. However pleasant, her presence had become a real thorn in his side. The Entertainment Duelist had been hoping for a bit of relaxation and respite after his journey with Reiji and the Lancers, wanting to go about his day to day business like nothing had happened. But the constant call of her pet name for him wasn't letting him enjoy any peace.
"DA~ARLING~!”
With a visible flinch, Yuya grimaced and swallowed his nerve. She was going to catch up with him eventually, or break into his house to do so-- he might as well let it happen and get it over with.
Faking a smile, the teen turned around, bracing himself for the smaller girl to tackle his chest and hug him tight.
At least, that's what he expected her to do. Instead, trotting up to him on light feet, Mieru approached him slowly. With her innocent and concerned look, wide green eyes, and pensive way she carried her crystal apple, her whole demeanor had changed.
"Darling, I finally caught up with you,” was her quiet greeting. “You've been avoiding me.”
He couldn't deny that he was trying to. A slender hand reached up into bright red locks, trying to pass as at least semi-innocent with a scratch to the back of his head.
"S-sorry,” Yuya quickly stuttered, “I've been trying to relax...”
A small pout curved Mieru's lips, but it faded away. “And I've needed to talk to you. What I have to say might relax you more.”
Oh no, what could she possibly mean by that? Was it another hoakey fortune about their future together?
"...What about?” No harm in asking, right?
Mieru tensed at his question, clenching her crystal apple tight. “I would rather invite you back to my home to talk over tea than talk about this in public.”
Her answer raised an eyebrow. Yuya thought about it for a moment. On one hand, this tea time rendezvous could turn out very nicely; maybe Mieru saw something in his future, or saw something from his cross-dimensional journey and wanted to soothe his weary soul of his stresses. On the other, this could turn out to be one weird, convoluted plot to get him to kiss her or something.
Again, he chose to take the risk. After what he had been through, a simple talk with Mieru couldn't be all that bad. And, aside, he knew his mother would have his hide if she found out he was rude to the young fortune teller.
"Lead the way, then, Mieru.”
Mieru's house was almost as unsettling as her obsession with him was. Though being comfortably spacious, the overall theme was consistently dark, from colors to furniture. Ornate drapes were pulled closed in every room, letting in little sunlight. Potted plants littered the tables, their leafy tendrils spilling over the edges.
To avoid awkwardness, as Mieru put it, they stayed in the dining room, sitting opposite of each other at the round dark wood table. Yuya couldn't help but play with a tendril from the potted ivy plant in the center while Mieru started a kettle of water. All was quiet in the dark house, save for the tick-tock of a cuckoo clock in the kitchen.
"It's pretty quiet,” Yuya pointed out, trying to start small talk, “are your parents home?”
"Mama is out,” Mieru answered from the kitchen, “Papa is working late. I hope you don’t mind.”
A small, nervous smile cracked his face, and he took a deep breath. So they were alone after all. But that wasn't as bad to hear as he thought it would be. Even though he was in Mieru's company, everything about this meeting was starting to feel rather calm. Maybe it was the quiet, dark house that smelled so faintly of incense and greenery, or the fact Mieru wasn't being so boldly obsessive. Whatever it was, he felt he could relax here.
“I don't mind,” Yuya replied quietly.
He wasn't waiting in silence for very long before Mieru came back, metal tea tray raised high at her chest. Before taking her seat, she set it down, pouring them both a cup of piping hot tea and setting them at their respective sides. Yuya pulled it close and gave it a sniff.
"It's a lavender blend,” Mieru commented. “It’s green tea. Mama's specialty, good for calming nerves.”
"Like I need more of that,” Yuya joked.
Taking a sip, he blinked. Unsweetened, the tea was a little bitter, carrying a very strong, earthy flavor. But all in all it wasn't half bad. He drank half his cup before addressing the fortune teller again.
"So,” he began, carrying the note of the word, “what do you need to talk to me about so badly?”
Mieru set her cup down, green eyes unwavering as she stared at him. “Do you remember the fortune I had about you, the day we met?”
Not this again. He feared it was going to be about this.
"Hardly,” Yuya's tone turned sharp and bitter, “I only heard bits and pieces about being your ‘fated one', and then you started calling me ‘darling' and asking when you were going to meet my parents.”
Harsh he may be, but by now he really didn't appreciate the sentiment. Yuya hardly knew Mieru when she started spouting that nonsense, and it drove one of his best friends up the wall, too.
There was a small flinch in Mieru before she continued. “Well, it may be obvious by now, but... I was wrong."
This was new.
"’Wrong’ how?” Yuya asked. “I thought your fortunes were spot-on.”
Mieru shook her head, a small sigh escaping her lips. “I know its been a while, but I was wrong before, you know. During our Duel, you held fate in your hands and escaped the calamity I saw.”
Yuya blinked. “That... That's true.”
"Then you shouldn't be so surprised to hear that both fortunes I had for you were wrong.” Mieru added.
The entertainer paused as he raised his tea cup. “...Both?”
With another small sigh, Mieru looked down at her tea cup, a somber look crossing her gaze.
"You're not my fated one,” she answered slowly.
Another blink. “Really? Well, then who is?”
"I haven't seen that yet,” Mieru continued, raising her voice to a slight snap.
"Then what do you mean...?”
Biting her tongue, it was clear Mieru was getting a little annoyed. “You didn't let me finish, Yuya.” She snapped. “I said, you're not my fated one. I misread that fortune.”
Yuya was silent, pale hands grasping the sides if his tea cup as he waited for Mieru to finish.
"... You're the fated one, Yuya.”
“I--” Taking a moment to process the change in wording, Yuya sat in shocked silence. So she... Did she know about his eventual destiny all along?
"To be sure, I confronted my school principal about it,” Mieru added, “and she only confirmed my thoughts.”
A small gasp escaped his lips. “How?”
Here Mieru bowed her head, eyes closing slowly. “After our Duel, my principal was amazed by how you escaped my foreseen calamity. She wondered if there was more in store for you,” she answered. “When she tried to gaze into your future, her scrying crystal broke.”
Yuya almost lunged forward, spilling a few drops of tea over the side of his cup in the motion. “Wait, what?! Doesn't that-- That's bad right??”
As her eyes opened again, Mieru's gaze stayed fixed on her cup of tea. “It could have been. That, or you had some destiny so great it could change the world as we know it.”
The words sent a creeping chill down Yuya's spine, and with a gulp, he held back an outward shudder as dread crept into his nerves with it. Why wasn't this brought to his attention before? Certainly it must have caused great concern in her principal that, perhaps, she would have mentioned it to his manager at the time, Nico Smiley? Or to his own principal, Shuzou?
Mieru pushed her cup forward with a slow blink. Her expression continued to remain solemn and sad; he should say something on that subject. Nothing was her fault, if she felt that way about it, given this information.
"Mieru, it's oka--”
"I'm sorry Da--” Mieru paused as she tried to interrupt, her eyes going wide momentarily before she retracted from her choice of words. “...I'm sorry, Yuya.”
Yet another shock. For once she wasn't calling him “darling”? Misinterpreted fortune or not, wasn't she madly in love with and obsessed with him? Hearing his name from her... It felt so foreign. He was so used to the irritating pet name by now, even if he was biting back his irritation every time he heard it.
“You're... You're sorry? Why?” He asked. “You couldn't have known any better, right? Accidents happen.”
She shook her head, fluffy pink hair waving behind her. “I could have known better,” she insisted, biting her lip. “But I... Principal says I must have been so in love with the idea of romance that I... I skipped over any other possible meaning in hopes what I initially thought was true.”
"Mieru--”
"Yuya,” Mieru interrupted again, “it's true. I admit it.”
Backing up, the entertainment Duelist sat up straight once more, hands now firmly around his teacup. He'd let her say her peace, if that was what she wanted.
"You see...” Her gaze wandered to the light filtering in from the base of the curtains, lost in space. “Growing up, my way of life set me apart from others. Even at Unno, there are times I feel different. But I've always wanted a prince charming, wanted a boy who was strong or cool, the kind you read about in fairytales and novels.”
"A boy like that? Isn’t that--”
"Stereotypical? Like every other girl my age? I know,” she rambled, “but its been a dream of mine. I grew up with stories like that. I've always wanted someone who I could depend on and who could sweep me off my feet.”
A small smile formed on Yuya's slips. Stereotypical or not, in this light, it sounded innocent. It was unbecoming of his original impression of Mieru, and right now, a nice change of pace.
"I let that dream best my judgement. As a fortune teller, I need to strive to be better than that,” Mieru finished. “People may depend on my fortunes, someday, so I can't let my feelings get in the way of leading someone on the right path.”
"At least you admit that,” Yuya commented, “its hard to change sometimes, even if its for the better.”
There was a slow blink, and soon Mieru began to smile softly. “I take it you speak from experience?”
Yuya nodded. “I do. All I went through, with Reiji and the Lancers... It was a lot to handle,” he said slowly, “And Synchro Dimension had to be the biggest culture shock.”
Her eyes fluttered shut. “I'll bet. Especially having to deal with more than one soul inhabiting your body.”
Here Yuya's expression softened, and he looked down. “You know, I don't know how long it would've taken me to figure out what was going on if you hadn't been there during the Championship,” he added. “Knowing that Yuto was with me instead of gone forever... That was comforting.”
Mieru nodded. “You're welcome,” she giggled, “That's my other specialty-- to see into someone for who or what they are.”
Yuya laughed. “That must be one powerful apple you have there, then, if you can see all that.”
Mieru's smile grew. “It really is,” she murmured.
With a blink, Yuya noticed a small change. This meeting started out very, very stiff, but as things cleared up, both of them were beginning to grow comfortable with each other. Maybe all it took to get past their awkwardness was a chance to sit down away from distractions and talk-- something they didn't even think of attempting before.
All of these thoughts were pushed back when a ringtone went off, practically blaring in the quiet of the Hochun household. Looking down, light was coming from the pocket of Yuya's pants that held his Duel Disk. He had forgotten to turn the ring volume down.
Quickly he stood up, waving it off as he pulled the Disk out of his pocket. Yuzu's ID was visible.
"Excuse me,” Yuya's tone wavered in his embarrassment. “I need to take this-- I'll be in the next room if that's alright.”
Mieru, though startled as well by the call, quickly settled and waved him away. “But of course. Take your time.”
Nodding, Yuya picked up the Disk and answered the call, putting it up to his ear. “Hey Yuzu,” he answered quietly, “what's up?”
"’What's up'? Don't you remember, Yuya?” Yuzu's electronic voice sounded pretty annoyed. “You were going to watch me Duel, remember? Shingo challenged me after what happened last week.”
There was no stifling his sigh. “Oh, that. That was tonight?”
"Yes it’s tonight! I reminded you yesterday! Wh--”
"Yuya!! You better not keep the new Neo New Sawatari-san waiting!”
"Can it, you!” There was a loud, audible sigh of frustration before Yuzu refocused her attention on the call - but not before he heard a loud slap of her classic paper fan. “Where are you?”
Yuya glanced back at the entry to the dining room before answering that question. “I'm at Mieru's house. Don't worry Yuzu, its just a quick bus ride over to LDS from here.”
"Mieru's house?” Even over the call Yuzu sounded perplexed. “I'll ask questions later. Hurry over here!”
"I will, I will,” Yuya mused, “see you soon.”
Hanging up, Yuya casually returned to the dining room, sliding the Duel Disk back into his pants pocket. Mieru had finished her tea in the time he was gone, and once he returned to the table Yuya quickly picked up his own cup and downed the rest of his. Now cold, he expected it to be really bitter, but he relaxed to find it wasn't.
"Mieru, I'm so sorry,” he said, “I have to go. I promised Yuzu I would watch her and Shingo Duel tonight, and its starting soon.”
Mieru gave a slight nod. “I overheard bits and pieces,” she murmured. “Don't worry about it. Here, let me take these cups and I'll show you out, if you have the time.”
“Sure thing,” He could stand to waste a few minutes.
Yuya watched as the cups, teapot and tray were gathered up and set down by the kitchen sink. In a huff, the fortune teller returned to him just as he had pushed his chair back under the table. Together the two of them quickly made their way back to the front door, where Yuya sat down and pulled his shoes on.
But Mieru, as she watched Yuya get ready to leave, suddenly became tense again. The entertainer hardly noticed it as he tightened his shoes, but when he faced her again, Yuya saw a hint of anxiety creeping into her features.
"Um, Yuya,” Mieru mumbled, now rocking on her feet, “I-I know I misread that fortune, but...”
A red eyebrow raised in curiosity. “’But’ what, Mieru?”
There was a hard, loud gulp before Mieru spoke again. “I, um... I still like you, fortune aside... Do you..mind, at all?”
Yuya blinked. He couldn't say he was stunned, per say-- no, in fact he figured this was coming. Mieru had shown in the past, obsessive tendencies aside, that she did care to an extent. Did he mind? Not at all, really. But did he like her back? Well...
Patting both her shoulders, he gave Mieru a smile. “No, I don't mind, Mieru,” he answered, “but for now, Mieru, I don't know if I want to date anyone just yet. I'm still working through a lot of things after what happened.”
She nodded slowly. “I thought so...”
"But hey,” he added, smiling brighter, “we can be friends for now - even better friends - and see where that takes us. Is that okay?”
With those words, Mieru's pensive and cautious expression brightened. Even in the dim light it looked like her peridot eyes were sparkling. She flung her arms around his neck in glee, hugging him tight. For once, it was a very welcome gesture, and he hugged her back.
