The moment that Sakido's eyes met those of Ichika, an overwhelming sense of compunction and grief overcame him. Imagining what he had seen in his vision almost made him vomit from the thought of the debauchery. That poor girl had nothing to do with the mystical antics surrounding his existence, and now she was being mutilated in his imaginations, how was this to be as it should? Sakido's heart sank as he saw the happiness in her eyes once she beheld him. She shot upwards from upon the blanket that she lay, she ran to him and warmly embraced him.
Her hair was tied back into a ponytail and she had faint makeup upon her face that highlighted further her natural beauty.
"Sakido..oh! How good it is to see you again! You weren't answering my calls and I was so worried." She let off of him and looked into his eyes with her dilated pupils. "Izumi assured me that you were okay, just ill from the news of what had occurred with Shizuka...oh how tragic. I know that you two had grown apart, but seeing something like that...I can't imagine...is there anything that I can do for you...to comfort you?"
Every time Sakido beheld her face, the image of whatever that demonic creature was switched it's countenance with hers, causing Sakido an arrow of trepidation into his heart and mind, and causing Ichika to become more disconcerted than she already was.
"Are you okay, my love? Please tell me!" Ichika pleaded with him desperately.
"Ichika, darling, I thank you for your concern..." He pauses to consider to himself how to further the conversation without suspicion being aroused. "The aftermath of that tragedy has truly been weighing on me. It affected my physical and also the health relating to my mind. To see an incident such as that sickened me and I have not felt as my normal self. It is slowly returning, I have mourned for long enough, I desire to enjoy this show with you."
Her sympathetic eyes looked into his, she spoke "Sakido, I fear that you hide the extent of your fear, your loathing, I only want you to be clear to me."
Tears almost formed within his eyes, his demons were consuming him, the fires of guilt were lacerating his soul, he was torn between a lie and a truth that both were waging war in his soul to claim his fate. "Ichika, dear, words can't express your value to me, your concern is utterly heartwarming, I do not desire more than to have this evening with you."
The air that he managed to put on soothed her enough for her to proceed with the night, the two sat down upon the blanket laid on the grass, and viewed the horizon.
For the next minutes, the two discussed a little more of Shizuka, for his death, of what Ichika knew, was a sporadic murder, of which Sakido had found out there was a perpetrator.
"What?! They found HIM? Or..sorry, I mean who did it?" Sakido asked with confusion weighing on his voice.
"You must have seen him, right Sakido? It happened in front of you, the person held you at gunpoint and Shizuka attempted to defend you. Leading to him being fatally shot, the criminal was apprehended though later that night."
Sakido's heart began racing once more, he thought of how this story was twisted, who did this, and why? How could this have possibly been altered this way? Thoughts raced through his mind, until he noticed her eyes staring at him inquisitively, he responded with "Yes, I remember clearly, it was horrible. I'm only curious however, how did you find out?"
"It was on every news channel that night, Sakido, there wasn't a person in the city who went unaware of those events. Police watch has doubled, the city is extra precautious after the rise of crime lately."
Sakido stared at the ground briefly and touched the grass before looking back up at her "I see, my love. Not to be rude or such, but the celebration is beginning, I desire that we may observe it."
She smiled with her full and cheery smile "I too would desire that, Sakido." with those words, she gave him a kiss on his cheek and they turned their heads towards the horizon.
They moved closer towards each other as the first set of fireworks shot off and sent a cascade of effervescent light scattering all throughout the night sky. The two watched in awe, as fireworks in this scale were only reserved for special occasions like this.
"They're so beautiful. The Mitzi show never disappoints, even after being here every year for it." Ichika said, in admiration of the spectacle before them.
Sakido laughed a short laugh and said "Yes, my love.. I remember our first time viewing it, don't you?"
10 Years Ago
The two children stood upon the same cliff face as present in this modern day. Izumi stood behind them, having her hands placed on both of their shoulders.
The young Ichika jumped up and down with excitement and turned to Sakido, she took his hand into hers. "I can't believe you've never seen fireworks before! That's crazy! You'll love them...I promise!" While saying these words, her large green eyes glowed with a marvelous passion.
Izumi laughed at her sweetly and said "Oh, dear, he will see for himself."
"I'm sure it will be quite pretty. If Ichika says so, I believe it shall be." The young Sakido said, maturity laden in his young voice.
"YAY!" She yelled while jumping up and down. They both laughed at her antics as they waited for the show to begin.
An announcer standing further up the hill behind them began to speak through a microphone. "Ladies and Gentleman, we've all gathered here in the lovely Mitzi Gardens of Tokyo for our annual fireworks show. Let's not forget that this show is a celebration of our Japanese heritage and culture, to represent the beauty that has existed within our history and that shall continue as long as we preserve it. Without further adieu, let there be light!"
With the commitment of the announcer, the fuses were lit and the lights shot up into the sky. Casting a network of light webs that stretched across the night sky. Ichika peered up at it, the lights being reflected in her admiring eyes, she smiled with her mouth open as she took in the beautiful sight. At first, Sakido took in the sight as well and was impressed by the showing of colorful beauty. But, when the second wave of fuses were lit, the explosives made a louder noise this time, along with having orange, fire colored flares. As he viewed them...
Screams of his brethren being scorched to death, massacred before his eyes.
His childhood home being set aflame.
He remembered clearly the way the structure crumbled, how everything he had come to love fell apart before him. The pictures hanging on the wall were destroyed and charred, erasing all happiness, all love, all purpose. As he looked out the window present behind his parents that awaited their execution, he could see a horizon of fire that swept through the kingdom and left nothing in it's wake. He watched as the soldiers continued their destruction and massacre. The fire glowed like no fire he had ever seen, it was the brightest orange, almost an inorganic fire.
As he became lost in his reverie, Izumi could clearly see, as his tears were rolling down his face as the light illuminated them. Izumi gently placed her hand on his shoulder and gave him a tight embrace. The young Ichika looked to her left and upon viewing his face, she exclaimed "Oh no! You can't cry, they're supposed to make you happy!" After preaching this to him, she raised her hand to his face and wiped his tears for him, in an act that he did not anticipate and caused him to widen his eyes in response. His tears gathered on her hand as she rubbed over his closed eyes. In a heartwarming showing of affection, she embraced him tightly, hoping to cause him comfort.
"I thank you, I very much appreciate your care." Sakido said to her. As he looked up at her, he saw her large childlike eyes swelling with tears. "Oh no, I did not intend to affect you." He spoke with a soft voice.
"Well, if you cry, it'll make me cry!" She reproached him with a quivering voice.
Izumi then intervened after observing the events and comforted the both of them. She gently wiped the tears from Ichika's face and wiped her eyes of moisture. With that, the turned back to the show and were able to both enjoy the spectacle.
Present
"Of course I remember." She said, "I could never forget such a moment. We were still so young and had no idea of what would happen."
Sakido smiled and said back "Yes, how young and pure we were. But here we are still, and you're just as beautiful as ever. Your eyes still shine with that wonder and beauty that they did then."
Ichika's cheeks turned an immensely red color after hearing Sakido's compliment, in response, she buried her face into his chest. That was her usual way of dealing with compliments from him.
After a few waves of colorful lights, the two began talking as the show commenced.
"Sakido, I want to apologize..." She said softly.
Sakido was taken back by this sudden show of feelings, in response he asked "Sorry? Sorry for what, Ichika?"
She took a deep breath in and began to elaborate. "I know how much I expect out of you, and naturally I should expect a lot, since you showed me such care since we've met, but lately I haven't been very understanding to you. I'm aware that you have things on your mind that it's hard to talk to me about, I know that these things weigh on you and you may not feel understood. I know that I don't help with those feelings, I just complain about your behavior while never questioning my own. I just want to apologize and let you know that from here on out I'll be fair, I'm ashamed of my behavior, I deeply wish that you can forgive me."
She looked down at the ground with a blush on her face. Something like this wasn't very usual for her, it even took Sakido by surprise, as he didn't know how to react to such a confession. He used his hand to raise her eyes to his level. He then said "Ichika, it's not only you. Don't get me wrong, I greatly value your words, but it's also me to blame."
He attempted to continue, but became caught in his own words. By this point, lying had become a second nature to him, no matter how many conversations he had with her, that same feeling seemed to creep up on him, that looming dread that cast an opaque shadow over his conscience.
He found a way in him to continue "I'm not perfect, such doesn't exist, however, you deserve to be given the most it is that I can give, and that I shall give you. There is no other girl in the world that deserves to be treated as well as you. Your apology is redundant, for it is I that needs to change my ways."
The two stared at each other and exchanged ambient words to fill the silence, while their conversations continued nowhere.
She gave a slight snicker "It does seem that we both have come to an understanding. I just really didn't want the communication between us to suffer, but it seems that we're on the same terms with each other, right?"
Sakido stared into her caring eyes after she asked that question, his latent feelings began to trickle out of his skin. His eyes welled with tears, while her question remained unanswered.
She was surprised at his change in emotion and quickly inched closer to him. She rose her soft hand to his face and gently wiped the tears from his cheek. Upon feeling the warmth of his skin, something triggered within his mind. He remembered that awful nightmare and shot upwards. He stumbled backwards with his hands covering his face. He began to whimper and cry with his face covered. This was perhaps the last emotion that Ichika imagined seeing in a moment that seemed to have no negative implications.
His breathing grew quite laborious as his legs were shaking. She stood up to comfort him, only for him to turn away and attempt to not look at her.
"Sakido...this behavior is hurting me. Please, tell me what's wrong!" Her love for him showed in a reflecting tone of her voice.
Sakido managed to peel his hands from his face and look at her, he attempted as well as he could to separate the images within his mind. To his right he saw Izumi standing with her arms crossed. Ichika did not see her, but Sakido could view her. She stood there with her arms crossed and held a narrow glance into his eyes that spoke words Sakido didn't want to hear. He could feel her disdain for his cowardly actions, although he did anything he could to convince himself it was anything but cowardly.
He corrected himself and looked back at Ichika to speak. "I greatly apologize, please forgive me. I had a bad dream last night and I happened to recall it."
"Did it have to involve me?" Ichika asked.
Again, he could feel Izumi staring at him, but he did not relent, for his decision was steadfast.
"No, dear, the dream did not involve you, I just happened to think of it in quite the inappropriate moment. I have read my fair share of horror manga that seep into my dreams when i do not wish. Please, think nothing more of it. We shall continue! The last wave of fuses are about to be lit!"
She sighed and said to Sakido "As you wish, only remember that you can tell me absolutely anything. My dear, for whatever troubles you, I will be there by your side to ease your mind." After these words, she leaned closer to him and gave him a soft kiss on his lips.
As he drew his head back slightly, he saw not her, but the demon that had infiltrated his nightmare, it stared at him with her face that had been altered to appear more reptilian. Her eyes were diamonds, her skin was extra glossy, her lips were blood red, her canine teeth were visible.
"Do you want me?" The demon spoke to him.
Sakido, aware that it was a hallucination, was able to not react in a way that aroused too much suspension. His eyes only widened and he gripped her hand tighter.
She smiled and laid her head onto his chest. He laid his hand onto the back of her head and they observed the rest of the show. She laid her hand onto his as he gently caressed her body.
As the final announcements were concluding, he heard the faint voice of Izumi approaching. Both he and Ichika turned to see Izumi stumbling towards them.
"W-well hey there you...HYU...you two!" She said while choking on her own words, she was clearly inebriated.
Ichika squinted her eyes in a slight confusion and nearly playful disappointment. "Izumi...you're drunk."
"Oh-i-i-i-is that so..IIIIIchika? Well, it looks like s-s-someone here thinks they're smartuthenmeemmememe." Izumi trailed off in an intoxicated ramble.
The two stood up and both laughed at the situation.
Sakido had to catch Izumi before she fell. He then spoke "I just saw her fifteen minutes ago, she must have been downing this alcohol."
"You know how much she loves her wine." Ichika remarked.
Sakido chuckled and said "Love..yeah, what an understatement."
Ichika and he laughed symphonically as they viewed Izumi in this state.
"I suppose you need to get her back home. She isn't capable of going there on her own." Sakido insisted, as he was aware of Izumi's antics.
"Yeah, no kidding, forget walking in a straight line, this woman can hardly stand. Come on, Izumi, lean on my shoulder. Let's walk back home."
"I had a beautiful time, Ichika, thank you for this experience." Sakido said, thanking her with his sincere voice.
"Of course, Sakido, I enjoyed our time, your skin is still as soft as it usually is, even after all that you've gone through. I'm proud of you!" She said with a wink and a sarcastic tinge in her voice.
The two exchanged their goodbyes and gave a parting kiss. As Ichika began to walk away, she exclaimed "Just text or call me more often, Sakido...I could use hearing that voice more often." These words she also said with a wink, but her 'intention' was quite clear.
"That, I will do." Sakido said with a satisfied smile.
Ichika kissed her hand, leaving a mark of lipstick on it, she then turned it to him and blew it at him.
Sakido blushed at these actions and smiled as she had to nearly carry Izumi away.
Sakido, following these events, decided to exit the celebration, as he told Ichika he must return to his apartment. His real intention, however, was to return to Korihime and ensure that she was still fine.
Sakido crossed the long path out of the gardens, passing the now closed merchant stalls, he was then promptly greeted by the ambient darkness and silence of the late night rural Tokyo streets. He glided forward, making a steady pace in the direction he needed to go. The lamps vaguely lit the road, so a small path was visible as he tread across these roads.
As he was walking, he believed that he had heard a faint voice. After pausing for a moment, he heard that voice again, except he now realized that it was calling his name. He walked to the left side of the street where it came from, for he had been passing on the right side. He examined for a minute with no trace of anyone to be found.
"Hello?" He spoke out to the now silence.
He heard a footstep and turned to see a silhouette. The silhouette then took a few steps forward and was now illuminated by the lamp light.
Sakido was remaining laconic, as he was on edge at this situation, and was ready to fight or run if he needed to.
He viewed the newly illuminated figure, he immediately shuttered at the sight of the entity. The black mask that was don over his face was vaguely unsettling, and his ragged clothing made his mind wonder. The figure then lifted its head, not with its bloodshot eye visible.
"I've been searching for you."