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Her words rang repeatedly in his head. For the past hour, he had been sitting in her apartment, trying to figure out why she told him so. It was not that she spoke in riddles, but he did not expect it coming.
Ever since he lost his memories during the final fight with a big gang he couldn't bother to remember, he tried his best to regain at least some of his memories. Alas, it had been more than a month and still, none of his memories came back to him.
He sighed as he keaned back in the couch and stared up at the ceiling. All his friends told him that he was the closest one to her, their leader, his childhood friend, Shinrin.
So when he asked her if he could follow her for her next mission, she told him to go home, and she did not say anything afterwards; instead she continued to do her paperwork. It was frustrating and confusing and to be honest, it hurt him.
He closed his eyes and made up his mind. He would confront her no matter what.
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"Kuro! What-" Shinrin exclaimed as Kuro pushed her against a tree. They were currently in a forest near the base. Shinrin was on her way home when she was dragged by Kuro to the forest, which led to their current predicament.
Shinrin narrowed her eyes to him. "Any explanation?"
She was awarded with his silence and her expression turned serious. "What's up?"
Gently linking our fingers
Just by that
I know that I'm not alone
"Why?" Kuro finally voiced. "Why did you tell me to leave?" He lowered his gaze to the ground and tightened his grip on her shoulders.
Shinrin sighed. "Is that why you seem so uptight?" When she did not get any answer, she continued. "Kuro, you're still not fully healed."
"I doubt that's the reason." He spat and lifted his gaze to her, glaring daggers. "Yes, I know I lost my memories. From what I was told, I am your best friend! I've known you the longest. We were inseparable." He paused and his voice became quieter. "And when you told me to leave, I was hurt." He softened his gaze and lowered both his hands.
The sound of the night breeze brushing against the leaves were the only sound that accompanied their silence.
Share the warmth with you
And fall into a slumber
"Is it because I'm weak now, that I can't remember how to fight? That I would just get in the way?" He spoke softly. "Is that why?"
Shinrin stared up at him, eyebrows furrowed. She knew Kuro was emotionally fragile at the moment, so she took her time to choose her words carefully.
"Kuro," she started, "it's not like what you think." She took a deep breath and continued, "have you ever stop just for a second and think, that this whole thing hurts me as much as you? I dragged you into this dangerous game and look at what happened."
"You lost your memories of this nightmare, the one that got you hurt in the first place. Why can't you just be glad and move on? You were in this too deep and when you finally have the chance to be free, why do you still insist on still becoming a part of this?"
"Because," Kuro leaned his head to her shoulders and closed his eyes. "Because..."
That there is light on the other side of the night
Only the moon is gazing
At the whereabouts of us, who lost our wings
"That time, when you finally woke up after three days of being unconscious, I was really relieved that you're fine, until we found out that you had amnesia. Knowing that it was all my fault, I couldn't risk another chance by bringing you for another mission."
"You couldn't risk another chance of losing me again." Kuro lifted his head and stared into her eyes. Shinrin rolled her eyes and clucked her tongue. "Idiot."
"Why didn't you just tell me that in the first place?" Kuro asked, his brown eyes blinked in curiosity.
"Idiot. Even if I say that, we would probably still be having this discussion anyway. You're always that type of guy that doesn't believe a straight-forward answer." Shinrin muttered, annoyance etched onto her face as she recalled some of their memories together before he lost his memories.
Kuro let out a small chuckle when he saw her expression. Somehow, he felt familiar, like how they used to interact before the whole thing happened.
I feel like I've always known you
From the other side of time
He plopped down next to her and leaned against the tree. Shinrin followed suit and they both stared up at the dark sky.
"This feels normal. Do we used to do this?" Kuro questioned.
"When we were kids. You wouldn't stop bragging when you won the race to the hills. Then we would just lie down and watch the sky, clouds, stars." Shinrin smiled wistfully.
It was silence between them before Kuro started talking. "I wish my memories would come back soon. I feel empty."
"Some memories deserve to be forgotten." Shinrin closed her eyes and enjoyed the cool breeze.
"I don't care. It's not like the memories would change my opinions or anything. I'm still the same old Kuro deep down inside." He stretched his legs and relaxed his body. He was content.
Under the same moon
We were huddling close together
"People change their opinions once they heard something about it, even rumours." Shinrin replied.
Kuro smiled. "That time, when we passed that village on our way home, the villagers were talking about me. They would say how gifted and special I was, to have sensitive hearing. They even called me the 'Child of Angel.'
"Then they started whispering to each other. They said that by being associated, friends, with you, I was nothing more but a 'fallen angel chained by the nature demon.'" He said with quoted gestures.
"In the end, I'm still here with you, aren't I?" He finished with a lop-sided grin.
"Nature demon, huh?" Shinrin mumbled.
"The Seishitsu clan is a clan of monsters. Wrecking havoc and causing destruction just for the sake of their entertainment. And the bastard child becomes the victim of everything; their words, their accusations.
"People only assume that the bastard children are the demons because they were born with elemental spirits, just like how I was born with Aizu. To the clan, I'm a reject; and to the society, I'm a demon." She mused. "The rejected demon who lost her wings with nowhere else to go."
That by being your side gives me comfort
The tune of the moon pours
Into your tender back that has lost its wings
"This night is certainly a memorable night to me. I remembered bits of my memories, and we finally had a real talk." Kuro beamed. "And our only witness is-"
"The silence of the moon." They said simultaneously. Kuro turned, wide-eyed, to his childhood friend.
"You also say that every time we had a long talk during the night." Shinrin smirked. "Congrats. You unconsciously recalled one of your lame phrases."
"It's not lame!" Kuro huffed. "It's genius!"
Shinrin let out a small laugh that gradually turned into a full laughter. When she calmed down, she patted his shoulders at his puzzled and annoyed expression. "That's how you always are. You're on your way on getting your memories back."
Kuro grinned and looked up at the bright moon above him. He vowed to himself that he would get all his memories back, and he would do anything to make that sound of laughter come from the nature demon herself again.
After all, he's the fallen angel chained to the nature demon, and they had all the time and place in the world.
Until it turns into light
Certainly I can go on without letting go of my hands
Only the moon is gazing
At the slumber of us, who lost our wings
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