Chapter 3 - Amelia Kunjui - Angel District
"I'm not mad. Yet. I still want that information we discussed earlier and I want to know everything you know about Bernkastel. As I said earlier, it would be pointless to lie seeing as who your mother is you definitely know everything you need to about her. That and the fact I've noticed how friendly the both of you are with each other at certain times."
Oh. Um.
"That however can all still wait, we are allies and I don't make promises I don't intend to keep. I will now be fighting every moment from now until the end of the games to keep you and myself alive, should we be the last to survive we will cross that bridge. Lets sit, eat and get to know each other and actually have a conversation - something you should appreciate since I don't have them often."
So... He wasn't mad at me? I exhale in relief, feeling my muscles lighten. I had no problem telling him what I knew, except... I may not know as much as he thinks I do. Wait. 'I will now be fighting every moment from now until the end of the games to keep you and myself alive, should we be the last to survive we will cross that bridge.' Bridge.... Bridge.... Meaning, we'd die together? Not allowing a winner for the games... My cheeks relate a warmth that comes straight from my heart. What did I do... To make him care that much about me? I was nothing special. He was the special one.
I opened my mouth to speak, but my words were not to Shizuka. They were directed to the servant who was calmly standing beside me. "A peanut butter sandwich, please. Oh, and fries." It seemed like a rather odd supper, but it was perfect. Absolutely perfect. Back at my home, things as trivial as sandwiches were non-existant. It was all the fancy foods. Crab... Chicken.... Roasted pig, especially. Using your fingers to eat anything, was uncalled for. That was what utensils were for. In disgust, I took all of them, and pushed them off to the side.
I turned to Shizuka, and fiddled with my fingers. How was I going to explain anything to him if I was so nervous? Breathe in... Breathe out.... Alright. Much better.
"Th-that's good... I'm n-not a very good liar, anyways..." I mumbled, looking down at the tablecloth. Well... So much for being calm. "The reason behind our b-behavior to eachother... Uhm... Well, There is no way an angel like me could ever go to a different district, e-even with my mother's status... However..." I paused, swallowing hard. "Since Bernkastel i-is a Victor, she was obligated to visit each district for both years... So... We did meet twice. Only for a day each, so it's not l-like we're exactly friends... She didn't do much. She just stayed in the guest room the entire time..." I explained. I wasn't lying, either. She, quite seriously, locked herself in that room. I don't think she even came out to eat. The second she was aloud to leave, she did so. I talked maybe five sentences into her within those two visits.
I pause, watching as a hand extends before me and sets my supper out on the table. I nod back at the servant, and he leaves. I turn my attention back to my food. Ah... Sandwich.... Fries... Perfect! As I scoop up a handful of fries to shove in my mouth, it occurs to me how embarrassing it would be to do that in front of Shizuka. To recover, I take the handful and set them off on the other side of the plate.
"Well, for info on Bern.... She can summon the five demon servants of Lord Ashura...." I began slowly, munching at my fries individually.
Chapter 3 - Marisa Ryunatta - Vampire District
Smiling widely, I looked up at Kerin. His midnight blue eyes grazed over my golden yellow. It was so... Complicated. Just meeting me today... And now he was a personal bodyguard to me. Although it was kind of annoying that he jumped between Ryuu and myself back on the helicopter, It was sweet. Really sweet, what he was doing. He protected and cared for me, like I was his own flesh-and-blood sister. And I liked him too. He was really nice. Probably the first person to be this nice to me in.... A year? Maybe....
*Flashback*
"What are you doing?"
I stand there, watching this new girl with a garbage back inside my grip. We were at the back of the orphanage, where the huge, metal garbage bins were. It had been my turn to clean, so here I was. But why was this girl here with me? I had never seen her face before. A new face. A fresh one. At eleven years old, she looked to have come from some rich family. Why was a rich little girl, here behind the orphanage? We stared at eachother; weighing the other down with our eyes. She was slightly shorter than me, and had this narrow face. Her bright amber hair was pulled back in a ponytail, which made her seem older than she was. Her pansy-purple eyes were wide in shock.
"Y-you're one of those popular girls.... U-um. I was just throwing something out." She whimpered softly. It made me frown. She was scared of me. Well, I guess anyone who wasn't a 'pretty' would be.
I look down at what she is carrying. It was... An instrument? Not any instrument, but a violin. A beautiful violin...! Although, it looked rather worn down. The golden brown paint was chipped off horribly, and some of the strings were rusted and/or broken. Before I have time to answer, she is raising it up to put in the trash.
"W-wait!" I release the bag I had been holding, and take hold of her wrist. She looks at me in horror. As if I had just pulled a gun on her. "Wait," I say a little more softly. I coax her to release the violin into my hands. I had never touched a violin before... I had never played an instrument before, either. This girl was frozen to the spot, as I handled the musical artifact. So beautiful. I look up at her with a friendly smile.
"Can I keep it?"
Confusion furrows her eyebrows together, as she questions me. My existance. My words. Why would anyone want some broken down thing like this? I would want it, because it was pretty. She nods slowly, just to get used to me. To feel that I wasn't like the other 'pretties'. She seems to like that idea, and she ventures on into conversation. The words are curious, and it's like... Like she's tasting each one she says. She's careful how she words things. She asks me music-related questions. Had I ever played before? Was I good? Did I own an instrument? Each answer was a 'no'. She was calming down.
~~~
My mind trails off from that point, to approximately one year ago. Me and her, Asumu, up on the rooftop. We were laughing, with these huge smiles on our faces. Yes. My friend. My best friend. Asumu was the only person I could really feel comfortable talking to. A girl who didn't live at the orphanage, but somewhere nearby. She came every day to visit me. Little by little, teaching me how to play the violin. I could play sad melodies. Melodies of losing both my parents. Melodies of anger, which came from the world inside the orphanage. However, I mostly did happy, jumpy songs. Songs that made my heart flutter in freedom. A song that reeled back every time I saw Asumu. Her unwavering smile, and her smooth black violin.
She played for me. Played these beautiful songs I had never heard before. Slow, complex songs that made tears spring into my eyes. She was an amazing violinist. Almost a prodigy. Each time she picked up that black violin, I was hushed into silence. My ears knew the sound of her playing almost instantly. Her songs too, were of different emotions. I liked her happy songs the best, because she was the only one I knew who could replay those feelings so perfectly into music. I would never be able to achieve her standard. I had only ever been truely happy when I was with her. She knew of many different forms of happiness. She played songs that celebrated a later bedtime. A song if the sky was clear. A song for a birthday. A song for when she was with me.
And a song for the love of her parents.
She was playing that song to me. The song of an unbreakable bond. Her mother and father, tied with so much passion into their only daughter. The movie nights they shared on those rainy days. Those silly faces the father would make to cheer Asumu up when she was feeling down. I would never be able to replicate such a song. Because, I had never felt the warmth of a mother's carressing arms. A father's hand reaching down to pat my head. Instead, his hand was always a fist. Pushing me further and further into the realm of sorrow and abuse...
She stands up, and puts on this serious expression.
"Marisa. You can do whatever song you like. Being perfect at it doesn't matter. As long as you enjoy playing the violin. That is what counts!"
~~~
Before the tears have a chance to get into my eyes, I hop into the huge bed. Ah.... It was so soft. The flannel sheets and the fluffy pillows... I crawl underneath the layers of blankets, and urge Kerin to do the same. Knowing, that I will probably have the nightmare again tonight. That same nightmare scarred into my mind.
"Uuu... Please sleep with me, Kerin-sama...." Was I pleading? In my mind, I was. I needed him here with me. I wanted to cuddle against him. Maybe then, those horrible images would go away. Maybe then, I would be able to have a night where no tainted memories surface.
Chapter 3 - Mammon - Underworld
I watch him grin. Eh, so the boy lives... Good Lord. He better not be as stupid as I just saw him be, ALL the time. Yet, he was funny. Very funny, haha. (<--Sarcastic) I gape at his first sentence, showing a fake insulted look. "That's mean, Raike!" I purse my lips together, and watch him get up slightly. Oh jeez. "People who appreciate good looks! Now, are you done proving your point by dropping dead? You gave me a heartattack!" I continue on, jabbing my finger into his chest.
And for the second time today, I am annoyed beyond comprehension.
"Mammmmmmmmoooooonnnnnnnnn~!" A voice high and squeaky enters my ears, and I immediately cover them. I would know that voice anywhere. She was just as bad as Zane! What day was it today? Annoy the Hell out of Mammon day? GAWD.
I look over in irritation towards the door. She hadn't come in yet, but I can still hear her loud and clear. Locks wouldn't mean anything to her. You could have the highest-grade protection and security and she would still get in. Who was this person I was talking about? Alice. My eyes are still trained on the door, when she bursts in. A demon younger than myself. If you based her appearance off of her annoying voice and behavior, you were dead wrong. She may look young, but she's dressed like a freaking business woman! Dark, olive green eyes look at me accusingly. And, I know exactly why they are like that.
"Mammon! Did you steal one of my plushes again?!" She says automatically, hands on her hips. Her curly blonde locks of hair spill across her shoulders in perfect rings. Too perfect. And don't get me started on the description of her clothing. Again, business-like. A cuffed black shirt, with a matching tie. The skirt is black, as well, but has more of a school-girl quality to it. The huge bow on the side of her head makes her seem more childish. It's like they took a human career woman, and then mushed her into the personality of a ten year old.
"Alice, I don't have time for you today. Get lost." I growl, speaking out my irritation rather well. However, she doesn't seem to get that I'm busy, and she continues.
"Maaaaaammmmooooonnnnn! Give it ba-Oh!" She notices Raike for the first time. "Ohhhhhhhhhh~ I get it now!"
"What is there to get?! I said get lost!"
She does this cute little smile, and backs up. "I'm gonna tell Luci~!"
"Tell him what?! That you got another elephant plush? Don't bother because that thing's head will be off before you can say "N" and "O"!"
"That you got a new boyfriend, of course! I'll go now so that you can do your thing with him~!"
I gape. Why was everyone coming to the conclusion that I was with Raike for THAT reason?! Damnit! "Don't you dare! He's-"
"Nyahnyahnyah~ I can't hear you~!"
"AAAAAALLLLLIIIICCCCEEEE!"
She's quick to leave my room before I can snap her head in half. Damnit. I grab Raike by the back of his collar, and begin to drag him. An embarrassed, yet infuriated blush covers my cheeks. "We're leaving!" I open the door that Alice just hid behind, and chuck the human into the other room.
When I close the door behind me, we are no longer in the Underworld, but.... An elevator? An elevator that Raike should find suitable. Looking over at the buttons, we are currently on the lowest floor of the Human's tower.
"Go ahead, press Fausto's room." I say, gesturing to the controls.
Chapter 3 - Natruo The Game Designer - God District
"You'll think about it, huh?"
I don't bother raising myself off my one knee. If he attempted to hit me, I could pull his legs out from under him. This boy was just lucky I went easy on him. I could have used magic. I could have made him see horrible illusions. But, I decided I liked him. He was a fighter, and maybe... Someone who would give Bernkastel a hard time. I knew he wouldn't be able to lay a finger on her right now, but if he trained in the right things during his time here, he could, quite possibly, injury Bern.
Finally, I stand up. My neck cracking slightly. I was a little sore, but nothing that my exceptional healing couldn't handle.
"Nice fight...You're alright."
I smirk, crossing my arms over my chest. "Same to you," I pause, thinking things over in my head. Hm... "Hey. If you want, I'll teach you a magic that Bern doesn't know. A special magic, that will make Bern fight all-out against..." I offer up. I just hoped this caught his attention. I wasn't lying, because there was a certain type of magic the witch was unable to learn. A magic that was her weakness.
"Training starts in nine hours. See you." Of course, I wouldn't give him that kind of power for free. I was, after all, the Game Designer. He'd have to pay up at some point. And wheither all the contestants knew it or not, the games had already started.
"Your plans will fail, my sweet lady. And when they do, your stories will be nothing but lies, your rebellion will be in vain, and war will rage for years until you are but a speck of dust." - Noh
"The lies of your world will be exposed. My rebellion will rein over your realm, and no longer will this time be plagued by war." - ???