"Itsuki?" Mutsuki whispered.
Itsuki looked at his brother, his blue eyes looking wide. He didn't say anything but his eyes asked a question.
"I want you to promise me something." Mutsuki continued.
Itsuki blinked, "What?" he asked, please, please don't ask for something I can't give you...
"No matter what happens, promise me Yae and Sae will not have to go through this. Promise me that?"
Itsuki smiled wanly, "I promise, Mutsuki, I promise."
Mutsuki returned the faint smile and returned his gaze to the pillows lying before them. He reached to the side for Itsuki's hand.
Itsuki swallowed gazing at Mutsuki awhile longer before taking his twin's hand.
Itsuki resisted the urge to flinch when the Ceremony Master arrived, standing right behind them. The Priests began to chant softly and Itsuki gripped his twin's hand tighter.
The Ceremony Master signaled an end to the chant and stepped forward with a knife. He motioned the twins apart.
Itsuki reluctantly released his brother's hand and turned to face his twin as Mutsuki did the same.
The Ceremony master reached forward and, taking the red cord in hand, severed it at Itsuki's end, releasing it to hang free from Mutsuki's waist.
Itsuki knew it was just symbolic but he flinched as if he had actually been cut.
The Ceremony Master stepped back and joined the Priests without giving the twins any direction.
Itsuki and Mutsuki had no need of it though, they new what was expected of them. Mutsuki moved first kneeling on one of the pillows. Itsuki hesitated long enough that the priests began to shift uneasily. When Itsuki stiffly moved to kneel on the pillow opposite his brother the crowd visibly relaxed. Itsuki could feel his brother's gaze on him but he refused to look at him. Looking into his brother's eyes would surely undo him.
There was a long moment of silence. One of the priest�s staffs hit the stone floor with a metallic clang and shattered the silence. The priest moved to do it again and the rest of the priests followed suite. Soon the entire chamber thrummed with the rhythm of the drumming.
Itsuki knew what the sound signaled and without looking reached for his brother's neck. His hands clasped smooth skin and he felt his brother stiffen.
"Itsuki..." His brother's voice was faint but he heard it like thunder. It wavered with fear.
Itsuki looked up sharply, hands clasped loosely around Mutsuki's throat. As he met his eyes he saw and felt his brother relax again. He gave a slightly encouraging smile. Itsuki's eyes widened as he understood. Mutsuki didn't want his brother to look away, he wanted to look into his twin's eyes.
Itsuki shook his head, no! No! He could not do this! He could not look into his brother's eyes as he killed him! He could not watch the light fade! NO! He started to retreat, his hands pulling away from his brother's neck.
The thrumming sound of the staves became louder and more frantic and the Ceremony Master stepped forward.
Mutsuki saw and grabbed his brother's hands, guiding them gently back to his neck, "It's all right Itsuki! It's all right! You must do this! Please! Itsuki please kill me!"
Itsuki shook his head, "I...I..."
"Kill me!!" Mutsuki shouted, begged.
Itsuki was frozen by the cry. He saw the desperate plea in his brother's eyes. Tears blurred his vision as he forced himself to tighten his hands around his brother's throat. Mutsuki did not fight him and Itsuki tightened his hands until he saw his twin's breathing cease and he could feel the frantic pulse of his heartbeat against his palms. He saw the pain and instinctive fear in Mutsuki's eyes but he never once struggled. Mutsuki's hands fell away from his and he collapsed. Itsuki followed him down, gently straddling his chest to keep the pressure on his throat. If he let go now he would only have to start over. He would not lengthen Mutsuki's suffering...and he didn't know if he'd have the courage to do it again. Mutsuki's eyes closed and Itsuki's did the same. He concentrated only on the pulse beating against his hands. The rhythm of the staves seemed to throb in time with his brother's heartbeat. How long it was he did not know but it seemed centuries before the steady pulse fultered, slowed, then faded away all together. He continued to hold on for a long moment before his hands finally loosened and fell heavily to his sides. The thrumming of the staves ceased as one.
Itsuki's harsh breathing was loud in the painfully silent room. His eyes drifted open and he stared in shock at the still form of his twin, an angry red mark marring his throat. Itsuki swallowed hard and winced in surprised pain. He reached up and felt his own throat, discovering the same mark etched into his own flesh.
How long it was before he regained the strength to look up he didn't know but he immediately noticed the concern on the faces of the priests around him. He blinked. What was wrong?
The priests began to mutter amongst each other but the Ceremony Master made a sharp gesture to silence them. He motioned to the Mourners standing nearby.
Itsuki stood up as the Mourners picked up his brother's body and started carrying it to the pit further down the tunnels. The Ceremony Master gripped Itsuki's arm as they all followed the Mourners. Itsuki allowed himself to be led as he was feeling more then a little numb.
The passageway leading to his twin�s final resting-place was a blank to Itsuki and he only truly became aware as the Mourners prepared to throw the body into the dark abyss. He moved away from the Ceremony Master and watched as his brother's body disappeared into the blackness. He waited for what was supposed to happen next...but nothing happened. No Crimson Butterfly flew from the darkness and Itsuki felt nothing but loss. There had been no joining. Mutsuki had not become one with him.
The priests bowed their heads and began to file out. The Ceremony Master let out a frustrated growl of "Failure!" before following them.
Itsuki remained staring into the pits dark depths in shock. Failure? He had failed...
He had slain his brother...for nothing.
Itsuki collapsed next to the pit, head bowed so low it nearly touched his knees. I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry...I failed you Mutsuki! I failed!
No tears would come though, he could do nothing more then stare. A strand of his hair fell into his eyes and he blinked, startled, touching it. He let out a loud sigh and let his hand fall limply back to his side.
His midnight black hair had turned completely white.
Next Page