An uneasy expression appeared on their faces as they averted their gaze. Only Sotaru seemed to maintain that nonchalant expression of his. He held his hand out and handed it over to me. I blankly stared at the item. An old hair piece, one that I remembered seeing in my childhood. It was one of those hair pieces that looked like chopsticks. However instead of using them to eat, you'd stick it into a section of your hair as an accessory. Pale colored cherry blossoms. It looked as if it were brand new. But this hair piece... it shouldn't exist anymore.
"Sotaru", I mumbled slowly, keeping my gaze locked on the nostalgic item in my hand, "Where did you.. find this ?" "We found it here, laying in front of the fountain." I looked up to see Ao walking over to us. "What do you mean ?", I asked, slightly narrowing my gaze. "What do you mean that you found it in front of the fountain ?" Sotaru glanced over to Ao, who nodded his head. "A few days before", Ao began to say as he turned his attention towards the fountain, "We got some reports saying that someone was lingering around the fountain. Since it didn't seem likely that someone who was with us would be hanging around the fountain, we went in to investigate. However...whenever we sent in someone to check, no one was there. It was strange." And this began a few days ago.. did it not ? "How often did you get those reports ?", I asked. "Not exactly often, but every once and a while", he replied, "Around the time of 3 and 4." "Did you go around during those times ?" Ao nodded his head. "And did you see who it was ?" Ao averted his gaze and looked up at the cloud covered sky. Sotaru sighed in dismay, scowling. "You're already well aware of who was seen", he said, his voice sharp and cold, "Don't try to act as if you don't believe it yourself." I slowly closed my hand around the hair piece and stared at it. "I see", I mumbled. "So after all this time, it really was her."
..Tainted. This hair piece was tainted. It's not the same one from back then.
So after all this time, I really wasn't hallucinating. That faded picture of the person that Sara had managed to retrieve. The one that I had dimly seen moving about. It really was her.
...No, it's not.
Out of all those other people, it had to be her. [Doushite ?]
I just want to see her myself, this person.
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"Juuji, if you will, quit hiding and come out already", I called out nonchalantly, "I know that you're there." There was rustling behind me, and then footsteps. I didn't bother to turn around. My attention was focused on the Makai Seal, the original one. I could feel arms around wrap around my waist as I was slightly pulled back. "No need to rush Darling", he mischievously said into my ear, "Did you miss me that much ?" "It's only been three days since we let you and Kaori go", I replied softly. "I'm pretty sure that you have it the other way around. The way you're acting makes it seem like I haven't seen you in a year." Juuji rested his chin on my shoulder and sighed. "It's not like I can help it", he said, "It feels like it's been forever since the last time I've seen your beautiful face." Cringe. I glanced down at the hair piece that was in my hand. It was another hair piece, one that Sotaru hadn't given me. The one he had given me was already put away in a safe place. I'd need it later, I knew.
"Say Juuji", I slowly said as I closed my hand around it, "When push comes to shove, will you kill me ?" "What do you mean by that ?" I slightly tilted my head to the side and looked up at the cloud covered sky.
"If Seiji told you to kill me, would you do it ?", I asked. From the corner of my eye, I could see him smirk as he pulled away. After, he moved in front of me so that we were both looking at each other. His amber colored eyes were gleaming. In fact, he looked amused. "I would", was his blunt reply to me. He seemed so serene about it too. "If I killed you knowing that you were just mine, and mine alone, then I would be content." "I see", I mumbled with a sigh. "In fact, if it weren't for Seiji's orders to keep you alive, I would kill you right now", he said, his voice was suddenly cold. "How so ?", I asked, slightly unfazed. "That mark on your neck", he began to say, "It came from another man, did it not ? You never gave me an answer." "What good will it do if I gave you an answer", I said slowly, "Besides, I told you didn't I ? Believe in what you want to believe." "But you see, I can't do that", he said, sounding a bit.. off. "Why not ?", I asked.
I reluctantly took a step back as he took a step forward. "Haven't you caught on yet ?", Juuji replied, looking somewhat hostile, "I don't share my things with other people. I don't like how you have someone other than I." "Well to begin with, I don't recall becoming yours", I replied back, "For all I know, I'm not an item either." Juuji discarded my words. "Nee, Guardian-san, tell me", he said slowly, his bangs looming over his eyes, "Who is this person ? Why is he important to you ? Aren't you content with just me ?" "I don't know", I replied. When Juuji looked up, I was slightly startled by how he was smiling. "You're lying again", he said moving towards me. I didn't move. Juuji reached for my wrist and brought my hand up to his lips. I watched as he placed a kiss on the hand that he had bitten from before. "Just say that you love me and I'll forgive you", I heard him say softly as he stared at the ground, "Just tell me who this man is so that I can get rid of him.. so that no one can stand in my way."
"I'm afraid I can't do that." Juuji and I locked gazes. I could feel his grip around my wrist tighten. "And why is that ?", he asked. "Because I look forward to sending you home", I replied. After a momentary pause, Juuji broke out into a laugh. I watched him, slightly interested in how he could easily laugh at the time like this. "Jeez", he said between his laugh, "This is why I find you so interesting darling. This is a serious moment, yet all you can say to me is that you're sending me home ?" "Is it normal for you to act clingy ?", I asked, slightly tilting my head. He waited to stop laughing before he shrugged. "Who knows", he said with a smirk, "Believe in what you want to believe." I sighed as he let go of my hand. I turned to the Seal. "When I seal the fountain", I said softly, "I'll be expecting a lot from you in trying to stop me." "So you're expecting to die ?", he asked. "I guess you can say that."
"Jah, then out of my love and concern for you, let me give you a little hint of what's to come." I smiled at him, who was grinning back at me, waiting for a response. "Please do."