" We love even when our love is not requited."
- Mortimer Alder
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Levin POV
Stopping in front of the door to my room, I felt uneasy. Seeing her in Cochlea, and letting her escape sent a happiness I didn't know I still had into me. But I know whatever Tokage did can't be completely erased.
I glance down at the plate in my hands. The meat on it was simmered nicely, I cooked it as best as I could. Just for her. I made it with the same seasoning I always did. Does she remember this dish I made for her?
A couple of months she was in there. They had starved her to almost death over and over to see what she would do. I remember that he did that to me many times also, but got bored of it after awhile.
I would've liked to spend more time with Tokage, to make him suffer more. But I didn't have time sadly, and had to eviscerate him quickly.
Now I'm here.
Scared to find out what's on the other side. Touka and the others told me that she hadn't come out since she got here. But she did eat whatever they set outside for her.
I have to take responsibility. I was the one that told her about the option of the surgery, and it all went south. I will make her happy, no matter what.
Taking a deep breath, I grab the doorknob. But then I freeze up. A shiver went down through me. Fear picked at my heart strings, pulling and twisting them into different directions.
What if she blames me? What if she doesn't want to see me right now, like the others? What if she's broken?
What if...
I push the door open, ignoring the thoughts and the back of my brain that says that it was all my fault. It was quiet once I did this. I had expected to hear her say something, like, 'who is it?'.
But instead as I walked in I see Kurona on the bed, hugging her knees and staring at the wall. She has a blank expression on her face, much like she always does. Something is different, but I can't tell how bad it is.
I take a few steps in and stop at the foot of the bed. I try to say something, but the words get caught in my throat, and it sounds more like I'm letting out a choking noise.
This, however is enough to make her flinch, and glance over her shoulder at me. There is a silence that hangs in the air. All we did was stare in each other's eyes, her blank face not showing what she was thinking, as usual.
Her left eye, her kakugan, not fully blank and red no more. Her iris glows red, the former human white surrounding it. The surgery really did work.
I noticed she moves her stare to the food in my hands. Beginning to walk to the table at the side of the bed, I finally let out some words.
"I brought some food. It has the same seasoning I'm good at making." I said, sitting at the office desk after setting the plate down on the bedside table.
Kurona stirs for a moment, like she contemplating whether she should eat it or not, but in the end moves to the end of the bed and doesn't take it. Maybe she's not hungry?
"How long have I been in here?" She asked, looking at her feet.
It takes me a moment to do the math. "Around a week." I mumbled.
"Really? It didn't feel that long." She said, twirling her hair in her finger.
"Are... are you feeling alright?" I said hesitantly, getting on this subject was going to be difficult.
Kurona nodded after a few moments. "I've been through worse." She said.
"Worse? When?" I asked, which was stupid of me, should've just shut my big mouth.
Kurona only let out a sigh. "My sister being in a coma she might not wake up from was much more terrifying." She said. "I'll be fine. I just needed some time alone."
Now that I think about it, she doesn't seem all that different. Was I worrying for nothing? I bite my lip, wondering whether I should let this subject slide or not.
But then...
"But yes. I was terrified." She said, hugging herself while shaking a bit. "I nearly snapped fully. But I'm okay."
This brought a smile to my face. "Good to hear." I said.
Kurona looked over at me and stared for a moment, then tilted her head like she always did when she found something interesting.
"Your smiling..." she mumbled.
Blinking I let out a small nervous laugh. "W-Whats so weird about that?" I asked.
Then, a small smile went to her face as well, but only for a split second. "Nothing." She said shortly.
Suddenly a loud gurgling growl filled the room. I stare at Kurona and then look down at her stomach. "So you are hungry." I said.
Kurona's face went a bit red while she covered her stomach. "Touka said my appetite won't go back to normal for awhile." She explained.
If her appetite was normal then she wouldn't have to eat for a whole other month, but with her stomach being fed that carp from Cochlea for the longest of time it messed up her digestive system.
I point down at the plate. "Then have some. It's still warm." I said.
Kurona picked up the plate and sniffed it. She tilted her head a bit. Did she notice?
"It's a bit different. I thought I might as well try something else." I said, scratching my cheek.
Kurona nodded and cut a piece of meat off the main portion, and placed it into her mouth. I stared eagerly at her reaction, wanting to know if it was good or not. I was scared that it wasn't going to be.
But after swallowing it she said, "Delicious... but a bit more tough than I remember."
I let out a small chuckle, and pointed at the meat.
"That's because it's steak." I said.
Kurona froze for a moment while putting the next piece in her mouth.
"What do you mean? Human steak?" She asked with a troubled face. This only made me smile more.
"No. It's cow meat." I confirmed.
Kurona looked down at the meat, then set the fork down. Her head was hanged so I couldn't see her face, but I could see that she was crying. Tears dropped into the floor and plate beneath her.
"Our promise... I won't be able to fulfill it after all. This is all I can do, sadly." I said, giving off a grim smile. But as soon as I finished Kurona dropped the plate and wrapped her arms around me.
Burying her face into my chest I felt the tears draining into my shirt. Her voice was muffled.
"It's okay. I can settle for half of a promise." She said, squeezing tighter. After a moment she pulled her face from my chest and looked up at me.
"I want to eat cake next." She said with a glint in her eye. This made me want to push her over slightly, but I held back and placed my hand on her head, stroking her silky hair.
"Try not to eat too much." I said with a bit of worry.
She nodded and lay her head on my chest again. Now that I think about it, now would be the perfect time to confess... right? The mood is right... and no one is around-
A knock at the door.
"Hey, Lev. The guys and me wanna go hang out, you done?" Ayato called at the door.
Ayato, your my friend, but sometimes I want to strangle you. Kurona separated me and sat back on the bed, she made a shoo motion with her hand, obviously wanting me to go have fun.
I give her a little wave goodbye and head out the door, where Ayato is waiting. "Go well?" He asked.
I stare at him, which makes him grow a worried expression. "W-What? I have something on my face?" He wondered aloud.
"Remind me to never to help you with women troubles." I said before walking down the hallway. Ayato chased after me with a worried expression still growing.
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
(The promise has been kept, sort of. And yes, Kurona is able to eat normal human food now, since she's now half Alghoul. With the Cochlea raid arc done, we enter the next~. Nonetheless I hope you enjoyed and have a wonderful day!) - MnMs171