Save Them - Redemption Arc Stories

Mera-Mikettio Arc, Chapter Five: Rekindling Over a Camp Fire

Mera: Is he okay? 

Mikettio: Oresama highly doubts it. He isn't waking up.

Mera: Is it because of the wounds he inflicted...?

Mikettio: Osoraku (maybe). 

Mera: Oh.... (looks at Ben) 

Ben is lying on a mattress that had been Mera's, and the two are in a cave as evening begins to set in. They had outrun some "Youkai" in order to get here, and Mera is exhausted, but she doesn't show it due to the guilt coursing through her veins.

Mera:... Hey, Mikettio, does anyone in the group you two are in know about those?...

Mikettio: I don't think so. Maybe his siblings, but definitely not his daughter. (sighs) He thinks his daughter hates him or something. It's sad, honestly. She probably loves him a lot, but he can't see just how much. He thinks that she's better off with someone who can take care of her instead of a pathetic piece of nothing like him. His words, not mine. 

Mera: Right.... What about his....?

Mikettio: Oresama only heard stories from the YSP club, but apparently his parents didn't care at all for him. He managed to get rid of his fear, but maybe his self-worth dissipated....

Mera: (looks down) ... What I said really hurt him... Right?

Mikettio: Don't say that. Ben cares for everyone, even if he thinks that he doesn't deserve love. (looks out) From what I know, Ben had fused worlds and killed people in order to scar them for eternity. The result is, well... most of the members are scarred, and they sometimes fear him, but  they don't blame him, especially after meeting his parents face to face. They tried to hurt his family, and he defended them. 

Mera: Fused worlds?...

Mikettio: Keita told me that a lot of worlds were fused in an attempt to hurt them beyond healing. 

Mera: Wow... (goes quiet) That's... not as bad as what I did...

Mikettio: Trust me, compared to Ben and me, your crime was small fry. (chuckles quietly) I destroyed someone negatively. And I treated my kids like obstacles. (looks up, watches the sky) But I guess that's why Ben told me to come. I think he believed that I could do better. (sighs) If only he would think the same way for himself. 

Mera: If only. (sighs) Ben isn't selfish. He's just too selfless. It's good that he chose to try something like that. At least he did something selfish for once. 

Mikettio: I understand too. Sarah is a handful,  but he loves her even after she stabbed Keita in the eye and killed GenoCruz. (laughs) 

Mera: (chuckles) Yeah... I guess so.... (stops) Wait, hold on... Mikettio, when did you stop using Oresama? 

Mikettio blinks, before it hits him.

Mikettio: I-I... I don't know... (shocked) But... It feels good... 

Memories of what he had done to Jinpei, Bakera, Goromi and Bluepon flash in his mind, yet for some reason, he doesn't feel a lot of guilt. It's just a bit. All he feels now...

is the determination to repent of what he's done. 

Mikettio: Is this... (touches his chest) Is this what Ben calls repenting? I feel light... And I feel ready to make up for all the pain I've caused them. 

Mera: It probably is. (grins) Congrats, Mikettio. You deserve it. 

Mikettio: (laughs) This feels amazing! (looks back to Ben, eyes soften as he gently touches Ben's left cheek) Thank you... You really helped me, Ben. (looks at Mera, gets up) Do you think that the temple could have stuff on how to heal him? 

Mera: Probably. 

Mikettio: Then let's go. We don't have much time to heal him. 

Mera: (nods, gets up) Let's go then. No time like the present, right? 

Mikettio: (grins, picks up Ben) Exactly.