((So, Takeyama is having some sort of mental break down at the moment... sorry if it seems too... I don't know, out of character? I mean, the guy lost the love of his life and is being pushed out of his own life work slowly. Desperation can change people.))
“Life” for me went on after what I’d witnessed between Yuki and Keisuke. No one acknowledged that simple moment when I’d interrupted them, and I wasn’t about to start talking about it. Best not to add anymore salt to the wounds I held in hiding. Still, every now and then when my eyes met with Yuki’s, there was a small flash of guilt, a look of pity before I turned away from her and stalked off to my only solace and my one hell: Eve’s room.
Everyday I spent more hours in their than I spent “sleeping,” and eventually my body shut itself down from the overuse. Daisuke had been seething with anger when I’d awoken, telling me that he didn’t have the supplies at the moment to keep on fixing up my problems and that I had to start leaving Eve’s body alone and try to do something useful!
But what else was there to do but wait?
Of course, I didn’t say that directly to Daisuke who hated me now more than ever. What ever past friendships we’d held back in the day were null and void now, thanks to all the losses I’d caused. Thanks to all the pain to Eve I’d caused. Because everything, everything was my fault. Oh, oh, what a pity.
Then there also that. All the Dorei’s looked at me with disdain now. No longer was I their great leader, the man that was to help them advance to peace and overthrow the Kurai. No, they had Sora for that now, especially that the other princess, Rikka, was missing thanks to your’s truly. Sora had become something of a missing queen to them, and technically, she was, but even so I felt like she was just using her title. Using the fact that she was alive, that she was no eternal…
In a way, I guess you could say I was jealous of Dorei’s. Sure, they were like Kagami’s in that they were mistreated and most times it became clear that we Kagami’s had the better advantage but really, wouldn’t it be better to be a Dorei than a Kagami? Because, while both of us were eternal - at least, one of us eventually became eternal after reaching a certain age - Dorei’s were still alive. They had beating hearts and blood flowing aplenty through their warm bodies, fueled simply by food and water that they could enjoy through taste and touch. They, who had more than what either the Kurai or the Kagami could ever ask for.
Then again, that could just be the part of me that’s Kuro speaking.
Anyways, I tried to go back into technology when it became clear I wasn’t going to direct our little “missions” anymore, and there wouldn’t be anymore missions - save for the one that involved those little invites given to me by that generous woman - but Daisuke, once again, stumped me on that, calling me incompetent. I’d only had a small knack for technology because it had been programmed into me. After that, there was no creativity, no genius that could master his own creations. That was, in sum, Daisuke’s way of telling me that I am useless, go away and leave me alone, and why not bother someone else while you’re at it, just to pass away your time?
So I found myself back at Eve’s side, watching her unchanging expression of passiveness as the days went by, speaking to her, saying how much things have changed now, telling her how I wished she’d just recuperate. Asking her what was wrong? Did you realize how much pain you‘ve put me through? Are you ever going to just wake up? Why couldn’t you just wake up? Why, why, why, damnit?!
One day, Eve’s body ceased to lay in that bed, in that same room. The machines were gone. The drawers that had held her clothes and her belongings all emptied. I’d tried to find an answer, tried to reach some conclusion. Then a thought had hit. Eve could be alive! Eve could’ve woken up! I’d gone from the room to Daisuke almost immediately, knowing he’d be the first to know of her situation but when I’d tried his door, I’d found it locked to me.
That wasn’t a problem. He probably was just out and around, walking through the building. No worries. I’d find him. I knew I would, if it was the last thing I’d do today. Not like there’s much else for me to do with this messed up life of mine. Not much to do, not much to say, only time to wait; too much time to wait. Way too much time. Eternity to wait. An eternity.
“Have you seen Daisuke?” I faced Yuki, cornering her in a hallway and no doubt keeping her from whatever patient that was waiting to be treated. Yuki blinked at me, then looked away. Thinking about that day. Thinking about how I’d seen them. I don’t care about that, I want Eve! Where’s Eve! Where is she?!
“N-no. I think he’s in his room…?” I brushed past Yuki, not even paying attention to the rest of her words. I felt weird. Desperate? Maybe. But I just wanted to see Eve, to know that she was ok, even if her body was practically a husk now… No, don’t think like that. Just think of Eve, smiling. She’d never smiled much when we’d been “together.” She was such a stoic person. But I love her. Loved. “Takeyama, wait!”
Wait? Why should I wait when I’ve been waiting for the past month or so? When I’ve been waiting way too long, and all I’ve ever been doing is waiting and waiting and waiting and… No more. I just cannot keep going on like a tape-recorder. I need to move forward! Stop waiting. Stop sitting there and watching. I need to do something! Eve. I want my Eve!
Takeyama, stop running! Just stop and tell me what’s wrong so that I can help you! Takeyama!
No. In my head. Get out, get out, get out! I don’t want to talk right now, I just want to see Eve and you’re slowing me down so will you please just leave me alone and go on to whatever patient you were just working on? I’m sure they need you very, very much!
Going down one hallway. Then another. Passing by some Dorei’s, and they glare. They all just glare at me, and I know they all want to break me into pieces and use those scattered bits to fix up Eve. And why not? I’m going mad now, anyway, just like that Steve. We’re all going mad for Eve! Finally, I stop for just a moment, realizing I’ve gone in circles. No sign or trace of Daisuke. Where the hell could he have gone? It’s just one sanctuary! Or maybe…
What day is it today? And where’s Keisuke? I haven’t seen him at all. Eve’s missing, Daisuke’s missing, Keisuke’s missing and… there’s something special about today, isn’t there? Finally, I lean against a wall to think for a bit, and recollect my thoughts. Today is… Saturday. The fifth? Yes, I think so. What’s so special again… A party, I think. Invitations…
No! The mission! And I’m missing out on it? Why would they do that? To me of all people? Aren’t I still a part of the group? Aren’t I still their companion? Just what the hell am I to them now? Anger. So much anger pent up inside me now, ready to explode. I run back to my study after that, lock myself up in there and try to calm the storm slowly rolling into my mind. I hate this all so much, just as much as all the Dorei’s probably hate me for losing their precious princess Rikka, and for not being able to stop the end of their sketchy if not doubtful princess Evelyn.
Takeyama, you can still be someone. Just follow my instructions…
New voice. It’s not Yuki, I can tell. This voice is stronger, more connected to all things Kagami. Rikka? Is it really Rikka? It must be. She’s the only other empath I know, the only one and the strongest one. Yuki is nothing compared to her. But instructions for what? What exactly am I going to do?
It’s not much, but it will amount to a lot if things go according to plan.
Will it really? I haven’t done much in a long while. How long do you think it will take to amount to a lot, hmm? I have all the time in the world, though I’m so impatient. Isn’t that funny? To be able to live for an eternity, yet to have the impatience of an old man ready to die. Am I going to die soon? I hope not. I’m too young to die, even if I don’t look it. Everyone’s too young to die. Especially Eve. Poor, poor Eve.
Do you want to save Eve? Do you want to see her?
Save? I thought she was ok already! Did something bad happen? Damn it, why don’t I ever know anything? And of course I want to see Eve! Why shouldn’t I, when watching her is all I can do to occupy myself most days. I mean, really, that’s all my life is now!
Oh, no. You’ve been lying to yourself, Takeyama. Eve is as she’s always been. But if you listen to me, you can save her. You can see her smile, and you’ll be able to kiss her. I promise you, she won’t stop you. You’ll have Eve back, and you’ll get even more with her. More than you could ever imagine…
“More than I could ever imagine…” I whispered the words, a bit dizzy as I realized what Rikka was proposing to me. Eve, and more. Eve, beautiful, wonderful Eve, and more. But what more could I want than Eve? What more was there? Give me Eve and that’s it. I don’t want more. I want Eve, and only Eve.
Then you will get Eve. You will have her, and you will no longer have to deal with the looks the Dorei give you. You’re friends will no longer shun you, like they’ve done today, and no one, absolutely no one will be able to say anything to you about it. You will be king, Takeyama, and Eve will be you’re queen. Doesn’t that sound nice?
Yes, yes it does. Me and Eve, together. And we’re eternal. We’ll be the true definition of the phrase ‘together forever.’ Alright, I’ll do it. Whatever you ask, Rikka. Whatever you ask and I’ll do it, so long as Eve is mine, Eve is my queen and no one disturbs us.
Good, Takeyama, good. All you need to do is go out today. Go to the party. You don’t need an invitation, you have an RSVP.
And what do I do at the party…? I’m not going there for the mission, am I? Isn’t Daisuke and Keisuke already taking care of that?
No, not for the mission, for Eve. Go, and I’ll tell you the rest. Is that clear?
Yes. I’ll go to the party. How should I dress up? Casual? Formal..?
Rikka?