He's been studying well. The lad is determined to do well and learn. I have even taught him to help with dinner. He has adjusted and learned about humans extensively and learned a lot about fae.
I can see why my daughter bonded to him now. She's always had a good sense for people. He is loyal and determined. I was scared at first. A demon in my house yet he is a sweet boy.
They've been here near a month but...her condition is getting worse. I rub her back watching her vomit up water weeds. She doesn't have long.
"Mum...please... don't let him see me like this" she whimpered between heavy breathes
Since then she's stayed in her room mostly bedridden. Keigo is getting more and more anxious. It only took a final cord for him to snap.
"Mum...do fae have souls" he spoke lightly hands in his lap
"No, when we pass, that's it"
"Its not fair" he muttered
"Its how it-"
"Its not fair! You're supposed to be immortal!" Tears started slowly trailing down his cheeks
"We're immortal, not invincible" I correct trying to remain composed
"Its not fair!" He gripped his shirt over where is heart is, "She can't die!" He hiccuped
Can't he see i can't do anything to help? I'm useless! I can't save my own daughter! "I know it's not fair! How do you think of feel! My little girl is dieing in the next room before me!" I try not to crying having shed enough tears already
Keigo completely crumbled breaking into a fit of sobs. I gently hugged him trying to be comforting.
"Please, please let me see her" he sobbed
"She doesn't want you to see her this way" I try to soothe him
"I don't care!" His voice cracked awfully.
I've had to put a ward on her door to keep him out. Its what she wants but...my heart is too soft.
He could be her only hope...I remove the ward.
Keigos POV
I hurried into the room seeing she isn't here. I start to look more frantically as mum came in looking equally in shock.
"Where-" i plead
"I don't know" mum covered her mouth looking horrified at the open window
No no no...fuck no no no. The tears are burning trails down my face as I vault the window taking flight. I have to find her. I need to find her. Where where.
Behind the house leads into a forested area. Its hard for me to fly through the trees but I do everything I can until it grows more dense and I have to switch to a mad sprint looking for her.
Blue flames roared to life until Dabi blocked my path, "What you running for?"
"I have to get to her" i shove past him
He kept up annoyingly well, "She wants to die out here you know, are you really going to deny her final wishes"
"This isn't the end!" I take a swipe at him but he dodged
"You're fucking blind. Can't see fae, can't see her condition and now you can't even see how desperate you look"
"Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!" That's the last straw. I tackle Dabi down managing to strike him in the face, "You know where she fucking is don't you! Lead me to her! Now!"
I watched one of my tears fall onto his face before it sizzled on his burning skin, "Why should I?"
"Because I need her" I choke back a sob
"You know any mage can teach yo-"
I grab his jacket lifting him and slamming him back down, "Its not the same! I need her! Only her!"
Dabi disappeared as a ball of blue flame shot out in a direction. I sprinted after it following that direction.
In the distance I see a quilt and hurry until I come to her leaned against a tree trying to wheeze in a breath.
I pull her into a hug the minute I get closer seeming to startle her, "Kei-"
"Dont EVER do that again!" My voice cracks
"What are you-"
"Please, let's go home" I sob into the quilt around her shoulders
Her arms slowly hug me back rubbing my back, "Ok"
I carried her home. Mum cried seeing she was still alive. She said she wanted to die somewhere alone so we wouldn't be bothered.
After that I didn't leave her side, "Please, eat" I hold the spoon out to her
"Keigo, my sweet lad, I'm going to die anyway. Don't waste it on me"
"Dont say that. You're not going to die, not as long as I'm around" I promise.
I refused to leave. Even when evening fell i still sat by.
"Keigo, you should go to bed"
"Im not leaving your side"
She sighed but nodded, "Then do you want to at least lay down"
She didn't have to ask me twice. I layed down next to her cuddling close. I pulled her into my chest wrapping a wing around her protectively. I'm not leaving. I don't care if I never leave this village, or even this room ever again. I am not letting her out of my sight again.
Afyer she fell asleep Mum came checking in eyeing me cuddled up to her daughter, "You should go to bed"
"Im not leaving her" I mutter lightly
Mum sighed but nodded shutting the door. I pull her a little closer without waking her and completely cover her with my wing. I'll fight off death if I have to.
I didn't sleep. I couldn't. Every creek and every rattle of the windows kept me awake. The only calm was the sound of her breathing and steady beat of her heart.
I soon found myself muttering, "You aren't leaving me, not yet. Not if I can help it. You've helped me more than I can know" I know she's asleep but its almost therapeutic to do this. I continued for hours about random stuff, things I learned and treasured. Tales from hell and heaven. Why I left and what my plan originally was. None of it matters now though. Only her.
"I read a book a few days ago. Your mother said it was one she used to read you when you were young. It had the most ridiculous stories in it. One had this woman who talked to birds and had these 3 fae who raised her cause a mage cursed her. The curse made her fall asleep for hundreds of years till a prince defeated a dragon and gave her true loves kiss. I know you've heard the tale...I just wanted to repeat it I guess. Unless you've forgotten it"
I feel like an idiot since I'm talking to a sleeping person but I continue, "She was cured with true loves kiss. It seems like that's the cure to most of the stories in that book. What is true love though? Someone willing to fight off a dragon? Someone who finds someone beautiful?"
I fix the blanket to cover her more, "All the men showed lust, greed, or pride though... they boasted their station, loved them on looks alone, or seemed to only care about merging the kingdoms" I roll my eyes
An idea comes up, "You know...I propose a different idea. True love should be about sacrifice. In heaven I met many souls who gave their lives for the one they so called loved. Met one who even cast himself to hell so he could be with his love," I mentally check to make sure she is asleep. After I affirm I finally speak softly, "I think I'd do the same thing for you"
I stayed quiet stunned at my own admission. I seriously said that. I feel embarrassed but continue, "I don't think I understand love. Its a complex emotion but...i feel irrational. I was an angel before I turned demon. I never noticed the change until I met you. I feel all the sins at once"
I fight a chuckle thinking about it, "Im so greedy now I want all your attention to the point I Envy those who knew you sooner. I've never had to eat but I crave eating with you even though I don't need the nourishment"
Letting my head rest over hers I continue, "My favorite times are when I get to lay with you. I missed this, you know? Your mum didn't like me trying to get to the room to cuddle. Remember when we were selling at that one town? I felt so...proud sitting with you. Like I'd earned a great honor that I punched that customer for saying you weren't as attractive"
I felt my stomach twist into knots as I spoke, "You leave me in such awe I struggle. I don't know if lust is the word. I want you in every way but...I don't crave it like that. I crave the...intimacy of it"
I cover my face embarrassed by what im muttering. Why can't I say this while she's awake? Then again I'd die of embarrassment for sure then.
She nuzzled closer in her sleep and I barely heard her mutter. I strain to hear, "-you, keigo"
My heart melted hearing my name. I slowly fall asleep.
Morning was a start when I felt a presence. I flinch looking over the room for the potential intruder when I see Mum opening the door, "still here?"
I nod and hunker back down into my wings after checking over (Y/N). She's still safe.
"How is she?"
"She sleep through the night"
"Still asleep?"
I nod
"Well...you have a visitor" mum muttered
"Visitor?" I question
I see Dabi behind mum. He had a hat covering his horns. The scars were still obvious though.
"Out" I hiss
"That's no way to treat a friend" he smirked shoving mum aside lightly to enter the room.
I raise my wings aggressively.
"Calm down, if I really wanted to harm her do you really think I would have fucking showed you the way? After you decked me?"
I relax but remain on guard, "Then what are you here for?" I growl
"To say we've given up our search" he shrugged
"Search?" I raise a brow
"Yeah, seems to me that we couldn't fine the Angel keigo anywhere"
"You really got them to drop it?" I look at him suspiciously
"They gave up. Especially when they went questioning the demon registry. Couldn't find a name anywhere. Found a Hawks whoever the fuck that is. No one they know of" he shrugged
"You didn't" I gawk
"Dont know. He must of died. Weird am I right?" Dabi smirked
"Why?"
"Less angels poking around hell the better. You seem rather...busy anyway"
I flinch feeling (Y/N) shift but still not wanting her to wake.
"Well my job here is done. Since that demon Hawks also disappeared looks like I'll have to find someone new to pester...keep out of trouble" dabi glared
"Dont have to tell me twice" I scoff
Dabi disappeared in an orb of blue flame leaving mum wide eyed, "He was a-"
"Dont worry about it mum" I interupt
Readers POV
I hear kei talking. He's close by too. I can feel his warmth, "Kei?"
"Yes, I'm right here" he grasped my hand quickly
I open my eyes surprised to see his wing wrapped around me, no wonder I'm so warm, "morning" I smile seeing his cute face. His bangs are in his eyes again.
"How are you feeling?" He cupped my cheek resting his forehead against mine. He learned this from mum, she did this a week or so ago when she was checking me for a fever.
"Good actually" I flex my hand. My blood flow feels better. My heart doesn't hurt like before.
"Really?" Mum questioned suddenly crouched beside the bed
Heat pooled in my cheeks realizing I'm cuddled up to Keigo with my mother right here but it would be weirder if I flinched back now, "Yeah, it's odd"
Mum eyed keigo. I raise a brow turning to also look at him but nothing seems out of the ordinary. Just kei looking like kei.
"What?" He looked between us confused
"13 crows" I heard mum murmer
"13- mum no" I looked more over Keigos wing until he lowered it some
"I need to go count" she got up
"Mum i swear to-"
"What does the number of crows mean?" Keigo looked confused
"Its mum being crazy. They don't mean anything but superstition"
"And if it's true?"
"Which its not" I remind
"Then?"
Mum came back in excitedly, "9 crows"
"Mum"
"Is it from you lad?"
"Me?" Keigo looked even more confused
"Answer the question. You love her right?" Mum pressed
Keigos face turned a dark shade at the question.
"Mum! Leave him be! All I said was I'm feeling better"
"Then we'll test" mum hurried to the bedside table pulling out a needle
"We'll get the same result" I scoff handing over my hand
Mum hummed, "We'll see"
She pricked my finger and we both watched in amazement as blood slowly came out
"Whats so amazing?" Keigo looked confused
"My blood has been thinned by water for days" I examine my finger
"My lad you really did it" mum muttered
My curse is ancient. Nearly impossible to break due to its nature. What breaks it is cheesy but impossible to find. Love without wanting anything in return. Not even my own mother could supply that type of love. I can't imagine...I can't fathom keigo doing that.
"Mum can you stop, I need to talk to Keigo alone"
Mum muttered to herself before leaving shutting the door behind her. She thinks I'm still a kid I swear, "Away from the door!"
I heard her shuffle off letting me focus on keigo. He sat up with me looking concerned, "So?"
"Kei..." how do I ask this, "do you... have anything to say"
He sighed grabbing my hands, "Ok, I...um. So remember that story book"
"Yes?" I look confused
"Well you know how charming went through the twisted forest that one story and in another he fought an evil queen, in the other he-"
"Get to the point"
"I..can I be...your prince charming?" Keigo had big eyes looking embarrassed
I was speechless to say the least. My prince charming. I like that. My prince charming, my angel, my demon, my keigo.
"Yes. My prince charming"