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-Part 1- Once Upon Atrocity She
paced her apartment for days, biting her fingernails. "
No more monsters.." she murmured as she paced. " No more
beasts.." Aren
frowned at the thought. Everytime she and Aya parted, it was always
catastrophic events that brought them together. But she didn't want that. No
magic. She was a person before all this magic and all the responsibilities that
fell on her. She
had cried for days, laid out across the large empty bed. It killed her, not to
have him there. Holding her, talking to her. Aren had one simple name for her
problem. Loneliness.. Aren
didn't deal with being alone too well. She'd been alone most of her life. She
chose to be alone of course, but then Yui came. She felt needed, and liked it.
Then Aya showed up.. All hell broke loose... She
knew where he lived. She just. she couldn't muster the courage to get her ass
over there. " I can do this..." she stood under the hot shower
rubbing the tattoo on her neck. " I have to do this.." She
stepped out and dried. She put on some clothes. She cut off the light to her
apartment, and left barefoot. She walked, letting the glass and dirt of the
street cut and abuse her. Then it started to rain.. Reality.
That was for her reality...pain. Something she'd felt immensely. Aren thought
she was doing him a favor by staying away! But, what was she doing to herself? She turned another corner... "
I..can do this.." she was nervous of course. Gods, how long had it been
since they'd last seen each other. She got there..and she stared up at the sky and
frowned. She made the treacherous journey. She looked to the
door and raised her hand to the door. " I..can't ...can.." she closed her eyes
tightly and knocked. --- Aya
laid quietly on the large bed, flipping the channels of the television. Ken had
gone out for the afternoon to a soccer game with Omi, Yohji had gone clubbing,
and since Aya turned down Ken to go, he was home by himself. He wanted to visit
his sister, but he knew the trip would be a waste. I wonder how
she's doing.... The
redhead shook his head, jolted upright as a crash of lightning spread across
the violetblue sky. Staring outside, he glanced around the room with an
amethyst gaze, wondering why, and, moreover, how, Aren came into his mind.
Turning the TV off, he shook away the thought, and buttoning the loose jeans he
wore, ran his hand over his chest softly, as if wiping away the tiredness, and
padded into the kitchen. Glancing around the darkened room, he sighed at the
mess Ken had left. Picking up the dishes, he set them in the sink. The things I do
for love.... He
scowled momentarily, thinking of how perhaps Ken was having fun without him. He
didn't like that thought, but his thoughts were rudely anyway, just as a loud knock came to the door.
Curiously, he walked over. "Who'd be here in the rain?" he wondered.
"Did Yohji forget his key?" Walking in front of the door, he unhooked
both locks, pulling the black door open slowly. His eyes widened, and he
stumbled backwards at the sight. Aren..... --- She
waited, and waited. Then she heard the footsteps. Aren gasped slightly and took
a few steps back... Just..breathe...breathe..." she mumbled
to herself as she heard the door unlock. Her body shook as she heard the
doorknob twist. Jesus, this was too much for her! She looked down at either end
of the hallway.. But, when she thought about it..It would be
hopeless..One, because..she was bleeding all on the floor. Two,
because she was dripping water all over the place..And Finally, because..that
jasmine of hers tends to linger.. She
could always evaporate leave a flower or something. But then that would be
cowardly, wouldn't it? Aren decided to amend her fate. She
waited, and it paid off once the disconcerned redhead appeared in the door.
Aren forgot how to speak. She stood soaking wet, barefoot and shaking
[though she hadn't realized it yet ] ..She
just stared taking two clumsy steps back from the door. "
Hello..Aya.." A
scowl crossed the redhead's face, seeing her poor condition, dripping wet, and
bleeding. "Nani yo." he demanded, standing in the doorway. He was
still well in shock, yet anger took over him. It's been a year... Why is she here? Why is she going to hurt me
again?? Clenching
his fist, he stared at her, amethyst eyes narrowed slightly, questions, hatred,
and moreover, the truth of loneliness visible in his eyes. The redhead hadn't
changed a bit. His body, hair, and pale, cool face hadn't changed. The scowl
became more full of hatred over past events, and the eyes a little deeper shade
of violet, but Aya was still Aya. Except that he'd been burned. She'd left him.
He could barely sleep at night, after Ken had moved him out of Aren's house. He held me that night...
begged me not to cry... He kissed away my tears, and
watched over me until dawn, telling me how much he loved
me, and would protect me... He told me he’d
never let her hurt me again. His
eyes burned with tears as he stared at her hard, the normal pallid expression
long since gone when he opened the door. Ken... where
are you? Help me... "
Gomen na ...I..shouldn't have come here..I thought..I'd..that...I.." she
stared at him with dark jades, pressing her back against the wall of the
hallway..her arms tightening about herself, more then she'd care to notice, her
nails digging into her arms. Physical pain always seemed to dim the emotional
and mental pain. But it was him, a ghost of a smile fluttered across her pale
lips [ usual such a deep red but weariness sets in...]. Her eyes became
haunted, she thought of that night for a long time..and she still hadn't gotten
over it herself. She shifted on her feet and look to the floor. Damn, she had been
calm, and now she knew why. Somehow she always felt better when she bled. Aya
sighed, glancing her up and down. "You're a mess. Come in, get out of the
rain. Stop messing up my doorstep, or Omi will have a fit.." he murmured,
and turned, walking back into the large, darkened apartment, leaving the door
open for her to come in. The light clicked on in the kitchen, and Aya sighed,
getting out the first aid kit, and motioned for her to sit on the counter.
"You are still an idiot." he sighed. Why is she mumbling? She's
not my Aren... Aren never mumbled.. she
demanded... That's why I loved her... Aya dropped the first aid kit, and jumped as it
clattered to the floor. "Iie yo..." he whispered, his eyes full of
fear. Ken demands... That's why I love him.... "Iie ... Iie yo.." Aya cried, tears
swimming past his eyes. Am I using him?
Is he just a substitute for her? She
followed him, tempted use her own methods to heal. But she promised herself. No
special powers. Just her, a woman trying to be forgiven by someone she
loved...loves. Someone..she still loves. She followed him into the kitchen, she
remained quiet, doing her best not to trail blood all on the floor. She hopped
up on the counter, and remained quiet. But when he dropped the box, she too
jumped...grabbing her chest and paling to a white that made her look
transparent.." Oh..gods.." she murmured as she put her hands on her
face, and she shook harder then before though out of fear or shock. She looked
to Aya, and frowned. Sliding off the counter top, and reaching for him. "Aya...what
is it? " Hell she shouldn't be here! it was disturbing him that's what it
was and she knew it, but still, she hated to see him hurt, but then again, what
was she doing here? The redhead broke down into sobs, dropping
onto his hands and knees, he cried, watching the tears splash all over Omi's
shiny kitchen floor, it hurt, it hurt so bad, she came back, after so long... "Why
did you stay away.. Why did you leave me.." he choked. Iie.. Ken loves me... I love Ken... But I love
her.... The
tears burned his throat as he tried to choke on her sobs. Thinking was the
worst he could do because he knew she could hear him, yet he couldn't stop, so
many thoughts racing through his head, so many things making him think what he
did, no, what he was doing was wrong. I don't deserve Ken... I don't deserve Aren... I deserve to be
alone... Red
hair became matted to his cheeks, giving him an incredibly childish look, and
the Aya facade faded away, and Aya's true being, the real Ran, came out,
showing true emotions. This is real... She
stared at him wide-eyed. She knew that person on the floor before her. She
pulled back. What could she say? She caused such pain, and thought she do
better by just leaving him alone. " Aya.." she crooned softly, trying
to be comforting.." Iie..Ran...I can't..say how sorry I am. And how stupid
it was for me to stay away...I...I thought It would be better..that you could
live your life..without the complications..I added..." She started crying
too. " I wanted to comeback..but I..couldn't..I just..didn't want to see
that hurt in you again..and it hurt me more to know it was my fault..so...so..I
stayed away..." She held herself as she watched him cry, adding her own
tears to the floor. He
looked up at her, hatred in his eyes as she began to cry. He rose upwords,
swaying as he stood, and then that hand raised, slapping her hard across the
face, throwing her backwards. Aya swam back, the coldness taking over slowly,
yet the softness, and loneliness still so visible. "Don't ever say you are
sorry. You don't know what I went through. You just disappeared, Aren." He
hissed. "That's unforgivable. You stayed away." He looked downwards, tears burning his eyes
as he shook an accusing finger at her.
"You didn't even say goodbye!" he shouted. "Nothing was
your fault, Aren! NOTHING! I loved you! And you burned me... " He felt his heart race as he stared at her,
feelings surrounding him in a tight bond he couldn't escape. "
What you went through?! I died that night, Aya! Do you understand that! I
ceased to exist! I was a spark..! " she hissed right back at him. "
Don't you tell me I can't be sorry..because I am..What you went through? I
suffered
doubly..because...because..." She looked to the accusing finger and
felt he'd poked it straight into her heart. She couldn't say goodbye..there
were not goodbyes... I want to be
with you... I want to be
with you... I want to be
with you... Grabbing
her, he pulled her forward, embracing her tightly. "You idiot... I want to
be with you... I always want to be with you.." he cried, tears sliding
down his paled cheeks. And
he couldn't tell her nothing was her fault..cause if she didn't exist on this plane.
But then he grabbed her, and she just started to sob.." I'm sorry...I'm
sorry...I'm so sorry.." she buried her head in his shoulder, and clung to
him as if her life depended on it.." I didn't want to leave...I didn't
want to...I'm sorry..." she held him, she couldn't stop saying it. "Urusai!"
he shouted, muffled against her shoulder. "Just let me hold you.." he
whispered, hugging her tightly. To hell if someone walked in. He didn't care..
and then it dawned on him. Is this real? Is she really
here? Memories
of what Asuka did to Yohji filled his mind, and he let go of her, stepping back
warily, staring hard at her for a minute with amethyst orbs. "Are you
really real..?" he whispered. Tsk.
Then there was that. She looked at him and tilted her head. Aren pushed those
wet hairs to the side, revealing that dragon tattoo on her neck. She looked at
him hard, and brushed her fingers over
that spot. She got that same warm tingly feeling anytime she was in close
proximity with him. There was the jasmine floating in the air, she was bleeding
on his floor. She grabbed his hand and brushed it across her cheek." this
is not a trick..iitoshi. I'm here..for
real. " She's real... She's really
here... "Oh
Aren.." he whispered, eyes softened immensely to show complete passion for
the woman before him. Tears streaked his cheeks as he slid to his knees,
tiredness and shock overwhelming his body.
"
Its..alright.." she smiled faintly and rushed to hold him. Aren held him
tightly to her, holding his head to her while she ran her fingers through his
hair. " I missed you so much..." she crooned in that singsong voice
of hers, running her hands down his back, she sighed. It felt nice to hold him,
but if she stayed, she only knew when that cold angry Aya would show again.
" I'm really here..." He cried against her like an injured child
would cry against his mother in pain. And he leaned into her touches.
"Aren.." he whispered, getting her attention enough to look down, and
leaning upward slightly, he kissed her gently. It'd been so long, and the cold
shivers slid down his spine, yet he liked it, it felt so right.. it felt so... She's going to
leave you again. He trembled in her arms, hands timidly winding
around her back in a warm embrace. Don't get
comfortable. She'll leave again.. And you'll be alone. There
was a comforting warmth to the kiss, a warmth that made her skin flush. Enough
that she didn't look like a ghost. Aren cupped Aya's face, and held him
tightly..This is a dream..I'm just gonna wake up and cry, just like the other
times. She let her tears splash onto his face, muted sobs shook her body, as he
held her..It wasn't enough that she had to be here.. But how long would be
before..he wouldn't forgive her again? Let alone..what would the others say? Aya slipped from her embrace, crying on the
floor. Blood now stained the clean kitchen floor, the first aid kit having been
kicked aside, its contents spilling out onto the cold linoleum. I'm going to
close my eyes, and you'll be gone.... "Aya-koi!
Tadiama!" Ken cried, opening the heavy door, and bounding in, skidding to
a stop in the kitchen, a large smile on his face. But his happy emerald eyes
turned dark when he saw the blood, Aren, and... Aya..."Aya!" Ken
cried, seeing Aya's trembling form on the
floor. "Ran.." he whispered. Now you have to
repent. Aya
turned his amethyst gaze to Ken, hurt, betrayal, and moreover, love in his
eyes. As he glanced back and forth between Ken and Aren, he tried to stand, and
suddenly the whole world began to spin, and as the redhead reached his hand out
to Ken for support, he suddenly slipped, and as his eyes slid shut, he felt his
body hit the ground, the thud echoing through the tiny kitchen, just as a
single tear slid past his eye. "Aren.." he mumbled, just before he passed out into subconsciousness. When you wake
up, she'll be gone. And you'll be
alone. Always.. Alone. |