You know, I find it sad that I actually cried writing this. An authoress who cried at her own story, who woulda thought? o_o;
Chapter 39: Duet: Ai and Risa
Without a home to return to…
The exhausted woman slouched as she clumsily opened the door, having returned from a tiresome trip. “She’s so… Impossible to find… I trust Risa-san fares better than I…” Yui said as she walked sluggishly through the long hallway. As she walked, she felt her head hit something broad and tall.
“Okada-san?”
“Mr. Manager?” Yui looked up, eyes blinking in confusion. But then she straightened herself up. Having been gone for almost the entire day, and calling Risa to notify her of Ai’s disappearance, the viyuuden member had no contact with Rika at all. Seeing that the manager was here… “How is Rika?”
“She’s very upset I’m assuming, since she hasn’t eaten since afternoon. She doesn’t want to see anyone for the time being. Right now, she has already left to have a calm walk in the night.”
Yui didn’t have a significant change of expression at those words. Rather, she simply looked down. Was it because of her? Was it because Yui had taken Ai out without permission from her Ojou-sama? Was it because Risa had told her very cold words? Who was to blame? Who did the reincarnation blame for her isolation?
Who did God punish?
“Why would you do such a thing?” The manager said in a stern voice. “Taking Takahashi-san without permission… That is an act of betrayal towards your Ojou-sama.”
Yui blinked again, unaware of the how fright has crawled onto her face, “You knew…Everything?”
The manager fiddled with his bangs as he spoke, “Really, that guard was useless… Admitting to everything… Indeed, the new workers who enter this business can’t be trusted…”
Yui’s eyes widened. Ai had been locked up in a shrine, and what the manager worries about is the incompetence of the new workers? She felt slight anger welling up inside her body, “And you think this issue should be ignored?”
The manager kept his arms at his sides, “If that what Ishikawa-san wants.”
Again, Yui felt anger swelling within her body, “You’re lying…You’re wrong…”
“You are the one that’s wrong, Okada-san,” the manager glared at Yui, “You are a part of eight who were born for the sake of Ishikawa-san, yet you betray her like that? Whose side are you actually on?”
Yui kept silent, her anger had dissipated. But why wasn’t she angry at the manger? If she had been under the influence of the curse, she might have snapped and yelled back at the manager. Yet, here she was, listening to his words, yet nothing in her heart produced a reaction. His words had absolutely no effect on her. Yui was left with an expression that was baffled and possibly even ignorant.
“Don’t be mistaken, Okada-san. The Orochi is born only for Ishikawa-san. They have to live and die for her. Don’t you forget that the Orochi without its master aren’t any different from demons!”
Yui closed her eyes and shifted her head lower. Why couldn’t she be angry like she could have? Was it due to the curse being lifted from her those many months ago?
“Why aren’t you answering me? Have my words gone through your ear and out the other?”
Was it that type of feeling? Yui was not sure. But she looked up at the manager again. “I’m… Sorry…” She apologized nearly hesitantly, but not to the extent that the manager would notice it. He simply let out an exasperated sigh and walked past Yui, intentionally bumping into her as he did so.
Yui looked back at the fleeting figure leaving, and continued onwards to her room.
Was it a dream?
Ai was like a ghost. Wandering without a cause. Walking without a destination. Living without a purpose. Haunting without a reason. She felt the effects of her fatigue again, but she tried to continue walking despite the pain from her legs.
Suppose it was a dream…I felt that Yui had found me… I dreamt that she carried me out of that room…
Ai was tracing her memories yet again.
Yeah… That day… That day where Reina and Yui talked…I heard everything… I saw Reina cry…I became enraged…
Was it then when my world began to fall apart?
Near by the scene, was a woman, who had witnessed all. She growled silently at the fleeting figure, but made sure that her presence wasn’t known. She had heard the entire conversation. She had seen the faces of emotion and sorrow. And she knew she had to take action immediately. Ai Takahashi then turned around, not going to Reina, but instead, facing a certain destination, and left.
Ai walked with haste to try and keep up with Yui’s departing figure. However, this was a busy hour, and many people had obscured the path to the Viyuuden member. Giving up at finding her, Ai trudged back into the apartment, hoping to await for Yui at her room, hoping that it was unlocked.
But at the same time, she tried not to be caught. She had dodged the other peoples’ awareness of her presence while in the apartment. She did not want anyone to find out what she was up to. After all, she had hoped to not arouse any suspicion of her activities lately. Unfortunately, she was found.
She felt hands grip the sides of her arms, just below her shoulders. She felt a breath against her ear, giving her shivers of who had caught her.
“What a bad kid… What business do you have up here?”
Ai turned around, getting in a firm stand against the woman who caught her.
“You’ve always been looking for something… Haven’t you, Ai-san?” Ayumi smiled half-heartedly as she moved Ai’s bangs behind her ears.
That has always been a habit of Ayumi whenever she had spotted Ai. For some odd reason, Ai recalled a quote from Melon Kinenbi member from when she had joined Hello!Project…
“Aww… The other fifth generation members are having a hard time because their parents aren’t so tolerant of them joining a big business… But you are fortunate…” She smiled as she moved Ai’s bangs behind her ear, “You have a very happy family…”
“Wait… Do you know, Shibata-san...? Do you know how to break the curse?” Ai looked up at Ayumi.
There was an expression on Ayumi’s face that Ai couldn’t describe efficiently. It might have been a smile indicating that she truly knew. It might have been a smile easily reminiscent of all the times Yossie had smiled. It might have been a ‘yes’ if Ayumi had spoke. It might have been a “maybe’ if Ayumi had spoke.
But that doesn’t matter, it appeared to Ai that she seemed to know.
“If you can realize my wish… I will tell you what you want to know…”
“Continue…”
“There’s something Rika holds dearly… However, I do not know what it is, and because of that, I want it… I’ve heard from someone that it was something of mine… So I wanted to make sure of what it is… They are strict with me, and forbid me to go into her room… But if it is Takahashi-san… Rika might let it slide… But what I want might be hidden… Right now, she must be doing her daily night walks, so I think now, you could get in…”
“I’ll look into it. I’ll be back,” and with that, Ai left the older woman alone in the hallway.
Ayumi could only watch the fleeting girl with a scheming smile. "Foolish girl. I know nothing of that kind of thing..."
Risa…
Ai rummaged and rummaged, but was careful to leave everything the way it was before she had touched it. She had checked Rika’s closet for anything that seemed out of place. She had checked Rika’s bathroom for anything that seemed out of place. She had checked Rika’s dresser for anything that seemed out of place. She had checked Rika’s drawers for anything that seemed out of place.
She had found it.
It was a box, a small box. However, the box’s design was rather elaborate. As she held it in her hands, she felt like she held a light-weight cubed piece of dark marble, for that was what the designers of the box wanted it to resemble.
Finally… Ai smiled warmly. I can finally free Risa…Out of curiosity, Ai placed her right hand over the box top to try and open the box.
But another hand had stopped her from opening the box.
Fear drained the color from Ai’s face as she was struck with realization of whose hand it was on her own. She slowly traced her eyes up the hand, and who it belonged to.
Rika was kneeling next to her, with calm eyes, yet Ai saw something far more sinister within those eyes… It was as if death had stared back at her…
The memories are clear…
I remember now… Rika… She was angry…Much like Mother…It was so scary… Was it my Mother… Or was it Rika?
“I don’t want to ever see you…”
Ai heard Rika’s voice echo off of the windowless room.
“Which is better? Releasing you from this dreaded shrine, or blinding Risa? Do you want to see if I am serious?”
No… I’ll be willing to stay here… I’ll stay here forever if that is what it takes to see Risa unharmed…I’m so sorry Risa… This was the only chance I had…I’m so useless… I can’t do anything…
Unable to bring your happiness…
Ai felt the fatigue hit her legs again, and she nearly stumbled upon the night street. She gripped the nearest post, panting slightly. But she couldn’t give up… Not just yet…
As she tried to walk again, it was as if a boulder was upon her back, and she was forced to carry it with her. She only made it to the middle of the neighbor street before she collapsed onto the floor.
No one could help her. She was surrounded by walls which did their duties of surrounding the houses they were made to shield. No car would pass in such a narrow street.
Ai passed out.
Surely, you don’t need such a burden like me…
When Ai woke up again, she found herself in complete darkness. A familiar scent filled her nostrils. The scent of blood. The scent of isolation. The scent of despair.
“I’m still here…?” Ai tried to lift herself by pressing against the floor with her arms, but she could not gather enough strength to do so. Instead, she let her body fall onto the floor again, giving up.
Be it with Yui… Rika… I’m always having bad dreams… Dreams that serve to remind me of my pain…
Why can’t…
I really want to…
Why can’t I dream of Risa?
That’s what matters to me now… What matters is that I ultimately dream of her…I want to dream of Risa… Her gentleness that I want to feel… My beloved… Why can’t it happen?
Ai closed her eyes again. She felt too exhausted to move her limbs anymore… She couldn’t move in the darkness that restrained her…
She let tears fall from her closed eyelids. Accepting her darkness… Casting herself away in her own darkness… And the darkness of her dreams…
Amidst her darkness, she felt a hand on her head. The feeling of the hand was very nostalgic to her… A hand that she had so badly wanted to touch her again…
…Risa?
Ai opened her water-filled eyes, and lifted her head slightly. Sure enough, Risa was kneeling next to her, caressing her hair with a look on her face like a caring mother.
It’s Risa for real… There’s a dream about Risa…
But after her confirmation, Ai hid her face behind her hands, now fully crying.
“Sorry… I failed… I just can’t find it… I can’t find the way to free you… I can’t find your happiness…” Ai released all of her tears. Of all those times she had the strong personality… She was really hiding her despair of not being able to find it… She could do nothing…
She had finally given up.
“My journey… It’s ended with absolutely nothing… I couldn’t do anything to save you…” Ai could feel the salty tears running down her cheeks like a slow river, carrying all of her suffering…
Risa lowered herself so that her face was near Ai’s ear, “Welcome back…” she whispered. Ai cried continuously after hearing Risa’s voice after so long… A voice she didn’t deserve to hear again because of her failure…
“Since the journey has ended…” Risa lifted herself up so that she was heavily leaning against her hands which were planted on the floor, “If you don’t return to my side… I will be lonely…” she said, sorrow clearly influencing her voice.
Risa’s gentleness…
“Then…” Ai wiped her tears away with a single hand, “ I should be going back soon…”
Going back to Risa’s side…
It’ll feel good to come back after so long…
Ai saw that Risa had registered her words, before saying, “I have been waiting for you…”
Ai couldn’t help but smile as well, despite a few tears still coming out.
“What a good dream…”
Risa finally smiled. Ai had truly wanted to treasure this dream forever… This gentle and kind Risa that had appeared in her darkness… This gentle and kind Risa that had smiled despite Ai failing to bring her happiness…
“Anyway, this isn’t a dream,” Risa placed her knuckles on her hip, continuing to smile.
Ai blinked. Sure enough, the darkness that surrounded them was illuminated by the heavenly stars shining behind Risa. The walls that had surrounded Ai from when she fell came into her vision as well. Risa was correct, Ai was definitely not dreaming. Not only was the heavenly stars behind Risa, but so were her beautiful translucent black wings…
Risa scooped Ai into her arms and beat her wings gently, slowly taking flight into the stars which were once behind her.
“I spent so long looking for you… Everyone was looking for you… You’re body is in such a bad state, yet you could walk this far…”
“There is no need to carry me like this… We could have walked back…”
“No,” Risa looked at the older in her arms. “I may be oblivious, and not notice that you are always suffering…I feel so worthless…”
Ai felt her eyes water again, why was Risa criticizing herself for Ai? It was Ai herself who caused her own suffering…
“Even though I’m like that…I’m not the brat I used to be. I can carry you now.”
Risa…
“So I will not let you go… You too, walk where one is able to walk, but if you can’t, let me carry you. It’s better to let me carry you… You are not a burden. Definitely not my burden…”
The journey has ended…
“Risa…” Ai could taste her tears running down her cheek again, “Risa-chan I…” She tried to wipe her tears with her hands again, trying to get across her words, but her tears were stopping her from expressing her words, “Risa…” The words could not come out. Instead, with all her strength, she hugged Risa’s neck, crying onto her shoulder.
“You don’t have to say anything… I know…” Risa consoled, flapping her wings gently so that the only thing they both felt was the gentle night breeze that they were enveloped in.
Ai was not going to accept that. Holding back her tears, she whispered what she had not said in so long a time.
“Risa-chan… I love you…”
Risa smiled. She smiled a forgiving smile. She smiled a kind smile. She smiled a content smile. She lifted her arms which held Ai a bit higher, embracing the warmth she had missed for so long…
Welcome Back…
<3
Topic: Our Cursed Gift [Chapter 47: Our Final Promise][COMPLETE] (Read 170928 times)