Storm clouds rolled in darkening the velvet sky. One by one each star that glistened disappeared from sight. Itsuki sighed as the last star disappeared from his blurred vision. The piercing wind stung his porcelain face. He shifted his head a little and looked to the ground. Just earlier that morning he had done the unimaginable. He still could feel his hands close around his brother's neck. He felt Mutsuki's warm skin pulsating under his own slender hands and then slowly the pulsating came to a halt. He clearly saw his brother's face in his mind. The peaceful expression with one tear rolling silently down his cheek. He took in a violent breath that made his body tremble. The memories were too much to bear. He rested his head in his hands. Sobbing quietly, he did not hear someone approaching.
He was startled by a slight touch to his shoulder. He turned his head to see Sae standing there with a solemn expression on her face. He tore his gaze from hers and looked back to the ground. She took a seat on the ground and leaned up against the rock he was sitting on. They remained silent for a long time. Finally Sae decided to break the silence. "How...how are you feeling?" She faltered. "Just wonderful.." Itsuki retorted sarcastically. Sae winced at his comment. He sighed a slightly and apologized. Sae rested her head on his knee. "Itsuki..." she began gently. He kept his gaze on the ground. "Everything is going to be okay. You're going to get through this hard time. This will only maker you stronger..." She was interrupted by Itsuki's bitter laugh. "Everything will be okay? My brother is dead! I murdered him Sae! I killed him with my own hands! and you tell me everything will be okay!" He said struggling to keep himself composed.
"Itsuki, please..." Sae quietly begged. Itsuki ignored her plea and continued on. "Why are you here?" He said sounding angry. "Don't you understand what I've done? Not only did I kill my brother, my failure has condemned you to death as well!" He said brokenly. Sae's big brown eyes welled with tears. "You did it for the well being of the village..." She tried to reason with him. "Damn the village to hell for all I care." He curtly retorted. "My brother is dead Sae, he died in vain, because of me..This is all my fault.." He told her quietly. She saw the look of defeat in his eyes. She saw how tired and worn her friend had become in one day. Her heart felt like it was going to burst.
Itsuki shook his head slowly. "Not only did I kill him but now you will die because of my failure." He said gently. He put his face back into his hands and wept bitterly. Sae choked back as sob as she heard Itsuki telling her over and over again how sorry he was. Sae rose to her feet and engulfed Itsuki in a warm embrace. "You haven't done anything to me Itsuki. Please don't cry anymore...." She pleaded with him. Wiping the tears from his face he looked at Sae intently. Still sobbing a little he raised his hand to her face. "Don't you see Sae? These hands are now covered in blood. My brother's blood." He said trembling. Sae grasped his hand and stared at it for a moment. Her eyes were thoughtful as she stared at it. Finally after a moment of silence, she squeezed his hand affectionately. "All I see is a beautiful hand that lies in my own." She brought her eyes up to stare into his. "You are no murderer my friend." She whispered to him.
He smiled slightly as tears fell out of his eyes. Sae slowly brought his hand to her lips and gently kissed it. Itsuki saw her flush immediately after it and chuckled a bit. Suddenly Itsuki grabbed Sae by the waist lightly and motioned for he to sit on his lap. Her face flushed a deep red but she did as she was told. When she sat Itsuki wrapped his arms around her. He laid his head on her shoulder. "You know..." Itsuki said breaking the silence. "Mutsuki and I agreed to perform the ritual so you and Yae would never have to experience it..." He whispered. She felt tears roll from her eyes as he told her this. He sighed a little. "Now that our ritual ended up in failure you and your sister will have to go through with it...but.." He trailed off as Sae gave his a questioning glance. "I'm going to help you two escape." He told her. She was stunned by this comment he made but she thought it best not to question him in the state he was currently in. He nodded his head to reassure himself. "That's what I'll do..." he said more to himself then Sae.
He rested his head back onto her shoulder. She could feel how damp it was from his tears. She barely heard his muffled "Thank you" to her and she nodded her head slightly. Sae turned to look up into the sky. She sighed slightly as she nuzzled her head against Itsuki's. Tears rolled down her cheeks but they did not fall to the ground. Her crystal tears flew up to the sky replacing the stars as the clouds rolled on to another place. The winds serenade lingered gently in the midnight air leaving the two friends with a sweet lullaby to ease their woes. If even for only one night, it was worth the world to them.
Back