100 days with Mr.Devil

Chapter 21: Dream or Past?

"Till death.." She said.

"Do us apart." He continued.

They exchanged rings and kissed. There was a bright ray of light shining on them.

Suddenly, there was pitch darkness.

"Akiara!" She heard a man shout.

This voice..is he calling me?

A woman laid in his arms, "So...this is your choice..."

There was a deep wound in her chest.

Tears rolled down the woman's face, "I- I see...I see it now..."

The woman struggled to talk as blood oozed out her wound. Trickles of blood dripped down from her mouth.

"I-I...Akiara...don't leave me..please!You can't.." The man sobbed and hugged her tighter.

"W-what am I to you, Xieus?" She was starting to lose her vision.

"You're my wife, Akiara. You're my wife! You've always been!" He said.

"No..I'm not.. perhaps we're not fated to be." The woman said.

"It's.. it's ironic isn't it?...This..T-this is the happiest day of my life. But yet, I-it is the saddest..." She said.

The woman pulled out the sword that has been stabbing into her chest.

"Akiara you-" The man shouted.

"I-I.. I don't regret meeting you..." The woman let out a bitter smile.

"We- we never g-got to watch th-the sunrise together..I-it's a pity." She said.

"Perhaps in our next lives...things will turn out better." The woman said.

The man grasp her hand tightly.

He hugged her lifeless body tightly in his arms.

"ARGHHHH!" He shouted as tears rolled down his face. He gritted his teeth.

"Akiko."

"Akiko.."

"MISS AKIKO!"

Akiko heard a slam and she immediately woke up.

"I am extremely disappointed in you! Not only were you late for class, you also fell asleep during my lesson! What on earth has gotten into you?! You stay behind after class, do you hear me?!" Akiko's teacher was standing in front of her with his arms crossed.

"Y-yes sir.." Akiko said.

Akiko rubbed her eyes and stood up straight.

Who...who were they? Why did I have that dream? Akiko thought.

And... why do I feel so sad?

Akiko's vision started to become blurry.

"Miss Akiko?"

Akiko tried her best to maintain her balance.

"Permission to take Akiko to the nurse's office, sir." Ayato, who was sitting behind her stood up.

"Permission granted. Hurry up." He sighed before continuing his lesson.

Ayato?... since when was he in class? Akiko thought.

Ayato grabbed Akiko's hand and dragged her out of the classroom.

Akiko couldn't keep up with Ayato's pace.

"S-slow down.. Ayato!" Akiko said.

Ayato suddenly stopped walking. He looked around the empty hallway.

He quickly pulled Akiko to a corner and hid at the side of the lockers.

"What happened?" Ayato asked.

One of Akiko's eyes turned ice blue while the other turned white.

Akiko was out of breath. She was extremely pale, like she was about to  faint any minute.

"Ayato.."

"I need you to take a deep breath." Ayato said.

"Look into my eyes." Ayato said.

His tone became extremely gentle and calm.

Akiko calmed herself down and took a deep breath.

Akiko looked into Ayato's eyes.

Her eyes slowly turned back to normal.

"Do you feel better?" Ayato asked.

Akiko blushed and nodded her head.

Ayato's face was just inches away.

"You're standing too close..." Akiko said.

Ayato took a step back.

"Your powers are out of control." Ayato said.

"Ayato, what's going on? What powers?" Akiko asked.

"Akiko, I need you to listen to me very carefully." Ayato said.

"You are a fallen angel, but you are not the same as other fallen angels."Ayato said.

"Your eyes are different. You may not be able to see it, because you've already reincarnated as a mortal, but we can." Ayato said.

"You possess the power of the fushi no tamashī fruit." Ayato said.

"You must have consumed it when you were an angel. It caused your soul to change its form.You're still unable to control it yet." Ayato said.

"It was suppressed within your body but something must have triggered it." Ayato said.

"Before you are able to control it, we have to try our best to suppress it." Ayato said.

"How did I end up consuming it?" Akiko asked.

"I don't know." Ayato said.

There was silence.

Akiko recalled her dream.

"Ayato, I saw a girl...In my dream..." Akiko said.

"Her name was Akiara." Akiko said.

Even though Ayato flinched a little hearing that name, he still remained his calm posture, "And?"

"There was a man too, Xieus." Akiko said.

"Who are they?" Akiko said.

"You do not need to know yet." Ayato said.

"I'll tell you when the time comes." Ayato said.

"Akiara..I...I was her, wasn't I?" Akiko said.

"Was Xieus...my partner?" Akiko said.

Akiko's eyes started to tear up.

"Why are you crying? Ayato asked.

Akiko touched her face. She wiped her tears away, "I don't know."

"That's right. You were Akiara." Ayato said.

"I want to know more about her." Akiko said.

"Is there any point in that?" Ayato asked.

"You'll be listening to me speak about Akiara, but it would be as if you're listening to another person's story." Ayato said.

"My past...Don't you think I would like to find out about it?" Akiko said.

"Things have changed. It would be better for you if you don't find out yet." Ayato said.

Akiko kept quiet.

"I'm going to die anyway, does it matter?" Akiko suddenly spoke up.

"You won't die." Ayato said.

Akiko looked at him.

"I'll protect you."