It's been a couple weeks since she's been at the mansion. She got Scorpio's permission to see Dui. She knocked on his office door. "Dui, it's me." Ariana said. "I thought I told you to leave me alone..." Dui said at the other side of the door. "I brought some cherries in case you wanted some. I'll just put them right here." Ariana said.
Just when she was about to leave, he opened the door to pick up the cherries. He looked at her and left the door opened like a signal that she could go in.
Once she entered, she closed the door behind her. "Aren't you afraid of me..?" Dui asked. "No I'm not." Ariana answered. "You're lying. I rather have you tell me the truth." Dui said. "I'm not. Honest." Ariana said. "Why won't you leave me alone..?" Dui asked. "Because... I can't leave you alone. The truth is... I miss you." Ariana said. "You... Have?" Dui asked. "Yeah. Even in a short time, we've made lots of memories and you've helped me when I needed it. I can't just let this all go. After all, I'm only human..." Ariana said. "...That's right. You are human. Humans are warm, simple creatures with kind hearts." Dui said. "I know you like humans." Ariana said. "I do. I've always watched Earth from the reflection pool. Humans are so cute and full emotion even though at times they may lose their way, but... They're able to start over and get back on the right track. They can do things gods can't which is amazing." Dui said. "What makes you think gods can't do the same?" Ariana asked. "What?" Dui asked. "If a god can realize he made a mistake, all he has to do is know what he did wrong, and find a way to get back on the right track. If humans can do it like you said, I'm sure gods can too. I know you sinned in the past but it makes me worry about you to see you like this. I want you to pick yourself up and move forward. I'll help you do that since you helped me when I needed it. If it's ok with you... Can you help me understand what's hurting you?" Ariana asked. "...This is the first time in my life anyone's told me that they want to understand my pain." Dui said taking a hold of her hand. "Would you like to go on the roof and see the stars with me?" She nodded giving him a warm smile.
They went on top of the roof and gazed at the stars. "You know... I've missed you too." Dui said. "Really?" Ariana asked. "Whenever I was looking at the stars by myself, I would think of you. It's because we looked at the stars together last time. That was really fun! Whenever I spend time with you, it puts me in a good mood. I didn't think you would be around me anymore since meeting my other self, but... Here you are. That itself makes me want to tell you more. Will you let me tell you... About my sin?" Dui asked. "Yes of course." Ariana answered. "Before I tell you, can I hold your hand? It'll make me feel better and it'll give me courage I need to tell my story." Dui said. "Do whatever helps." Ariana said and held his hand.
"My sin is the most sinful in the heavens... I killed another god..." Dui said. "What?! He killed someone?! This sweetheart?!" Ariana thought. "I had a best friend in the heavens and we grew up like brothers. He ate the forbidden fruit and went down the path of evil. If his crime were to come to light, he would've received a punishment worse than death." Dui said. "What could be worse than death..?" Ariana asked. "He would be entombed, alone in an escapable darkness closed for all eternity." Dui said. "That is worse than death..." Ariana said. "His body and mind had already been eaten away by the evil and looked like he was in so pain. I couldn't imagine what he was going through. That was when he wanted me to grant his final wish..." Dui said. "What was his final wish..?" Ariana asked. "He wanted me to put him out of his misery. Me, his best friend, the god he always thought as a brother, to be the one to end his life." Dui said.
She gasped and clamped her hand over her mouth. "...I killed a god. Under normal circumstances, I would've been kicked out of the heavens immediately, but I began to show signs of a split personality. With that, Scorpio agreed to keep an eye on me in the Department of Punishment until my symptoms subsided. He's the only one who can stop my other self." Dui said. "I know that since that was mentioned earlier..." Ariana thought. "The truth is... I don't deserve your help, Ariana. I don't deserve to be happy..." Dui said. "Don't say that..." Ariana said. "I couldn't stand to see my friend in pain so I did what he asked... Even when my life ends and I become a star and return to the sky, I think it's only right that I continue to bear this sin for all eternity..." Dui said.
She looked down with pained eyes. "Don't look so sad. I'm not asking for sympathy. Come on, look up at the stars." Dui said.
She looked up at the sky as commanded. "So... Did the other Dui start to appear after the accident with your friend?" Ariana asked. "Yes. It was before I started working in the Department of Punishments. I was even worse at dealing with conflict than I am now. I think my young self's weakness created him. He's much stronger than me... My violent self. To think I have a part of me that's diabolical... I scare myself a little..." Dui said.
She held his hand which surprised him. "Thank you for telling me this. I don't know how to help out, but the least I can do is support you." Ariana said. "Ariana... I want to hold your hand forever. When you're not with me, I feel so lonely that I'm not sure what to do." Dui said. "You can hold onto it as long as you like. I'll be here." Ariana said.
The next day, after class, she made food for Altair since he asked. "Here you go~." Ariana said. "Oh wow! It looks so good!" Altair said. "It looks so good!" Dui said. "Lady Ariana, I want to draw a picture on it with ketchup." Altair said. "Of course! Here, I'll help you out with that." Ariana said. "No fair! Only Altair? I should be the one to draw something." Ichthys said snatching the ketchup bottle from Altair and ran away, resulting with Altair chasing after him. "Ichthys! Give Altair the ketchup and stop running around!" Ariana yelled. "What am I? A mother with kids?" Ariana thought. "It's dangerous to run around like that! Oh! Ariana! Look out!" Dui said.
Before she could move, Ichthys bumped into her resulting in dropping the glass ketchup bottle on the ground. "I did it now..." Ichthys said. "Good job..." Ariana said. "Enough!" Shadow Dui exclaimed. "This isn't good. I'll get Scorpio. Altair, contact the heavens now!" Ichthys said. "Yes, sir!" Altair said and after that they both left the room. "So... This got triggered because of ketchup..?" Ariana mumbled. "What are you mumbling about?" Shadow Dui asked. "Nothing..." Ariana said. "What are you staring it? Am I that rare of a sight?" Shadow Dui asked. "Uh, no. I see Dui about every day." Ariana said. "You mean the goodie-two-shoes Dui? That reminds me... I've felt this strange emotion in his heart." Shadow Dui said.
She glared at him and he went closer to her and picked her up by the collar. "He told you to leave him alone, didn't he? He's weak..." Shadow Dui said. "He's not weak! He-" Ariana said. "He tricked you, huh? He's been sucking up to you and telling you that he wants to stay with you. That's selfish!" Shadow Dui said. "Stop!" Ariana exclaimed and got out of his grip. "Hmph. You love him, don't you?" Shadow Dui asked. "No." Ariana answered. "No point in lieing. Do you want to know how he really feels about you?" Shadow Dui asked. "I'm not going to listen what you have to say!" Ariana exclaimed. "He couldn't give two shits about you!" Shadow Dui said. "And I don't give two shits if he feels that way or not! I still trust him way more than you!" Ariana exclaimed. "What are you..?" Shadow Dui asked. "If you were always with Dui, you out of all people should know how he feels. Why would you do things that hurt him?!" Ariana asked. "Me? Hurt him? What are you talking about? If I weren't around, he'll have too many feelings to deal with. He's always pushing the annoying stuff on me to take care of. He should actually be thankful for me." Shadow Dui said.
She glared at him straight in the eye. "You and him are so much alike. I'm gonna tell you something he doesn't want you to know. He told you how he killed a god, right? But he didn't tell you the truth." Shadow Dui said. "Nope! Not gonna listen to what you have to say!" Ariana exclaimed. "Fine. Don't believe me if you don't want to. It's true he did kill a god and that he was charged with sin. However, no one ever charged his friend who ate the forbidden fruit. You know why?" Shadow Dui asked. "Because he was dead." Ariana answered. "Nope!" Shadow Dui said.
She looked at him suspiciously. "In order to protect his friend's dignity as a god, he had to hide the truth that his friend had eaten forbidden fruit and was being consumed by evil. Instead, he told people he had argued with his friend and killed him." Shadow Dui said. "That's a big fat lie!" Ariana exclaimed. "Too bad. He could've said he killed his friend as punishment for his friend's sin. If he had just told the truth, he wouldn't have to bear the disgrace of being called a god killer. Instead, he chooses to sacrifice his life for his best friend's reputation! What an idiot!" Shadow Dui said laughed. "This guy..." Ariana thought. "He didn't tell you any of this, didn't he? You don't even know the truth. What could you possibly know about Dui? My personality came into being because he needs me. I'm the only one who really understands him. You could truly understand so quit causing chaos in his heart!" Shadow Dui exclaimed and grabbed her by the neck. "Remember this... I'm the only one who truly understands that guy. So how about you do me a huge favor and piss off?"
"How about you... Go screw yourself..?" Ariana said in between breaths. "Damn it... No matter how I look at it, this is Dui... I can't hurt him even though he's hurting me right now..." Ariana thought. "Please. I can kill you in a second." Shadow Dui said tightening the grip on her neck.
She struggled to have his grip loosen and kicked him hard on the chest. "Why you imprudent woman!" Shadow Dui exclaimed and was kicked down by Scorpio.