Wadanohara and the Great Blue Sea: Did I do Something Wrong? [eng]

 

Sea Witch couldn't count how many times she had climbed those stairs lately. She already knew that there were exactly thirty-four of them and that the penultimate one was damaged on one side. The witch also knew that it took her twenty-forty-two steps to reach the cell she was so interested in (whereas Sal only needed half of that; being short really sucked sometimes).

Stepping carefully in the darkness, she stared at the figure crouched behind the metal bars. At first, he reacted immediately to her appearance, but for some time he remained indifferent whenever she came to visit. Wadanohara didn't understand this, and it made her come even more often, even if she felt like she was hitting the wall. Had she done something wrong to cause him to treat her this way?

"Hello, Samekichi," she said in a sing-song tone. The Sea Witch tilted her head, and the massive hat on top almost fell off. "Are you sleeping?"

Silence. Familiar and predictable, but it still made Wada purse her lips. It wasn't fair.

She usually stood there for a while, chatting away and trying to get him to talk. She told him about the sea, about the tempting red of these new waters, and about the world order that each of them should desire. And she wanted him to see it through her eyes; that he would wake up like she did when Sal made her understand. Then they could be together, the witch and her familiar, just like before. Didn't Samekichi want this?

This time, the silence turned out to be heavier and more difficult to bear than usual. Wadanohara realized she didn't feel like talking, since it wouldn't lead anywhere. She wanted to hear his voice, just like that, even if it meant a string of curses at Sal. She didn't understand what they were arguing about, but...

"Hey... Say something." She sighed and grabbed one of the bars and slowly crouched down. The train of the red dress she was wearing swayed gently. "It's really boring when I'm the only one talking, you know?"

Even if he knew, he clearly intended to torment her. She sighed quietly, playing with the ruffles of her dress. Why did he have to be so stubborn?

And why was it becoming harder and harder for her to look at it? Sal said it didn't matter. That she shouldn't worry about his brother or the doubts she sometimes felt. "Everything's fine. You trust me, right?" he kept repeating, and those words always made her feel better, because after all... he was right. Everything was as it should have been from the beginning.

Right...?

But today Sal was gone, and she sat on the stone floor of her cell, talking to herself again. She listened to the echo of her voice and the silence, which turned out to be the worst possible combination. Samekichi's indifference as well.

"Why--?" With surprise, the witch realized that she had said it out loud. She blinked and wiped her face, suddenly realizing that her cheeks were damp. "Did I do something wrong? Are you mad at me or maybe-?"

"I'm not."

She started when she heard that quiet, slightly hoarse voice. This time, the hat slipped off Wadanohara's head as she straightened up abruptly, startled by the figure that was suddenly right in front of her. She didn't notice when the shark moved, much less when he got so close - within arm's reach, despite the bars separating them - but it didn't matter.

In the darkness, she could see his black, focused eyes. Her former familiar's expression was one of indifference, apart from the way his lips pursed. He avoided meeting her eyes, but Wadanohara still appreciated that he finally reacted to her presence.

"Hi."

"Agh... Hi."

After these words, silence fell again, but Wadanohara found it more bearable than before. Okay, so he was here. He even replied. She was relieved, especially when she heard the denial.

"Say, Wadanohara..." Samekichi suddenly resumed. His voice was quiet, and he seemed to consider every word. "Why are you crying?"

"Huh? I--"

She wiped her cheeks again. Exactly, why? After all, everything was fine. At least that was her belief until a while ago.

She was still searching for an answer when she felt someone else's fingers brush against her face. The Sea Witch froze in silence, tensely waiting for what would happen next. She let Samekichi's fingers trace her damp cheeks and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was pleasant, yet unreal; completely different from what Sal had accustomed her to.

It was all so pleasant and somehow familiar. Like a bush of the past that she suddenly missed.

Why...?

Blinking away the tears that were still coming, she looked straight into the dark irises of the shark kneeling before her. And then she began to doubt, seeing in Samekichi's gaze, as in a mirror, a person she should know well, but yet seemed so foreign to her.

That Wadanohara was like a shadow of herself. Like a stranger who only superficially resembled someone everyone around him knew. Even though she had seen her reflection many times before, this time everything was different, so wrong. Nothing was right, especially her red irises - eyes that had nothing familiar about them.

She pulled away abruptly, slapping Samekichi's hands away. Breathing heavily, she rubbed her temples as she suddenly felt a headache.

"I... I have to go... I have to--"

Without waiting for an answer, she jumped to her feet and ran towards the stairs, miraculously not killing herself on the steep steps. Confused and still shaking, she ran to her room and carefully closed the door behind her. She didn't dare look in the mirror, knowing full well what she would see there. Why did this feel right to her until now--?

Samekichi denied it when she asked if she had done something wrong.

But Wadanohara felt it was a lie.

Mogeko Castle: The Price of Everything [eng]

 

She was suffocating. Each breath of smoke-filled air felt like torture. Even worse was the realization that it wasn't just a burning smell. There was something else , so distinctive, although Yonaka had never before had the opportunity to experience the smell of burning human flesh. Was it at all like Mogeko's one…?

The girl pursed her lips, fighting nausea. She crouched on the floor, right under the window she should never have looked out of. She was shaking, but it was happening outside of her, as if it was someone else entirely. And yet she was in a nightmare from which she couldn't wake up, even though she wanted to.

It hurt to breathe. It hurt to be here. Doing anything... hurt.

In her mind's eye she saw both the burning cross and the Mogeko gathered around. The silent members of a ritual that should never have taken place. Those who saw nothing but blind faith in the beliefs their king forced upon them.

The smoke was mixed with the characteristic smell of blood. Yonaka looked at her bloody hands and clothes, but immediately looked away. Looking at it – of course! – hurt.

The sounds outside fade away and a heavy silence fell all around. Yonaka knew this didn't bode well and that she was now wasting her opportunity to escape. She had to move, even if it was surprisingly difficult, even impossible. But she had to do something. She couldn't pass up the opportunity for which Defect had sacrificed himself. What would be the point of all this if she let herself get caught here?

On the other hand, what was the point of everything they went through together if it ended like this?

This thought turned out to be the most painful of all.

"Defect Mogeko," she sobbed, her throat constricting even more.

It felt like it took forever for her to finally get back on her feet. She staggered and held on to the windowsill so as not to fall. Another burst of smoke-filled air rushed through the bars, hitting Yonaka square in the face. Her stomach lurched, but apart from a quiet moan, the high school student didn't allow herself to do anything else.

Why? Why did it have to happen?

The thought still tormented her as she slipped out into the deserted corridor. There were even traces of blood there, leading in the opposite direction to the one Yonaka had chosen. Even though she tried to move as quietly as possible, she felt that she was moving too noisily and clumsily to go unnoticed. Honestly, on some level she really wanted someone to stand in her way. At least one of them she could tear to pieces, even if that seemed unlikely. She knew she had no chance against them, but the thought of possible revenge... turned out to be surprisingly soothing.

Yet no one stood in Yonaka's way the entire way up to the stairs. When she saw the steps leading up, her eyes filled with tears. Just a while ago, she would have cried with joy. Now she felt only emptiness and overwhelming helplessness.

The way to the seventh floor.

His floor.

Yonaka's hand trembled as she placed it on the railing. So here she was, with freedom at her fingertips. She could go home, see her brother and...

What for?

She looked down. The tears she had been holding back flowed freely down her face. They turned out to be as warm as the smoke from a burning fire. She would always associate warmth only with that.

She knew exactly what was waiting for her at home. She had long since stopped deceiving herself that her brother had not returned or that she would meet the real Shinya, whom she loved so much. No matter where she stayed, death awaited her. The problem was that Yonaka didn't want to die. She wasn't half as brave as the one who had brought her here and died just so she could live. Thinking about it this way, she realized it sounded like one big chuckle of fate. And one that Defect wasn't even aware of, having gone so far as to give her a chance to escape.

There was a moment when Yonaka believed they would run away from here together. Then she could live. She would even abandon her brother if she had the chance to enjoy the company of her unlikely guide. Maybe if she had decided to speak up while they were standing in front of that library...

But it didn't matter now anyway.

Each step was difficult for her. The stairs went up, but she climbed them very slowly, not even looking up. The determination with which she traversed this castle some time ago has disappeared forever.

If only she could change something. Any way to fix her mistakes that--

Yonaka stopped suddenly. She heard footsteps and voices somewhere in the distance, but they were far enough away that she was sure they weren't tracking her yet. It didn't matter anyway.

His floor... What did she really know about the seventh special Mogeko? Nega (how strange it was to use that name!) was the king's opposite, his greatest enemy. The top floor was an escape route, whatever the meaning behind that statement was. Yonaka knew from the very beginning that she had to get there to survive, but... What next? Where were these doors supposed to take her?

The door and corridor, which turned out to be a perfect representation of the vestibule in front of the castle. She felt strange when she stopped halfway, surrounded by silent statues and one lone Mogeko, busy with his beloved prosciutto. Yonaka looked towards the latter, but instead of anger, she felt only tiredness, so she didn't even try to torment him.

There was a door in the distance, but it didn't look like the desired exit at all. In fact, it all started with them, and as she approached them, Yoanka felt as if everything were to start from the beginning. The thought should have terrified her, but it didn't. Contrary. Maybe if she was given a second chance, she could make things right...

Make things right...

That's it. If only...

"Oh."

Yonaka stopped so abruptly that she almost fell. Mogeko, who was eating prosciutto, stopped for a moment and looked at her warily, but she paid no attention to him.

Correct. She could fix everything.

It was like a sudden flash of light that made Yonaka's heart skip a beat. She unconsciously wiped away her tears, struck by the thought that suddenly appeared in her head. The memory seemed distant and blurry, even though so little time had passed since she had been caught in that library. The same one in which she managed to read only rudimentary information about defects and... something else. Something she only skimmed through and initially completely ignored.

The seventh floor was special. It was a way out, although looking for it on the top floor was something that only existed in this castle. It led to anywhere you wanted to go, and if so...

Was it just an existing place? Or maybe there was something more behind it? It sounded like the craziest experiment possible, but she wanted to try it anyway. What else was left for her in this situation?

With a sudden burst of courage, Yonaka stepped forward. As if in a trance, she walked to the door and carefully pressed the handle. The door closed without any problems, but the high school student did not immediately decide to open it.

She wanted to be somewhere where everything was good. In a place where she still had the opportunity to make things right. Where she could still say those few words that had the chance to change everything...

How crazy was it to believe that apart from place, she could also change... time?

A bright, blinding light emanated from behind the door. Yonaka narrowed her eyes and tightened her grip on the doorknob. She had to make up her mind and do it immediately.

When she finally crossed the threshold, she didn't think about home, about her brother, about her old life. She only wanted one thing, regardless of the price. She could take a risk and give everything, if only...

Everything?, a pleasant, soothing voice rang in her head.

She stiffened. That voice... She couldn't tell if it belonged to a man or a woman. Yet he was sweet and endearing and so... alluring.

The light outside the door grew stronger, but Yonaka still didn't dare take a step forward.

"Who--?" Her voice caught in her throat. Maybe she went crazy and started imagining mysterious voices, like when she first met Somewhere Strange Mogeko?

But the disembodied laughter that suddenly surrounded her felt like more than just a voice in her head.

It doesn't matter, child. But you made me curious. It laughed again. Your desires... Really? Would you give everything?

Yonaka blinked, surprised by such a direct question. What's more, she didn't hesitate. Could she lose anything at all in this situation?

"Yes," she whispered to herself, but she was sure the creature had heard her too. Whoever it was. "Yes, as long as it works."

Even as she spoke, she pressed against the door, wanting to go through it, but this time she encountered resistance. She backed away, surprised by the sudden change. But did she do something wrong? Did she wait too long? Panic gripped her throat, but before she could react, she heard that voice again.

One by one, first let's make a little promise to each other. What do you think? If you're so sure not to ask for details...

For some reason, she had the feeling that the owner of that pleasant voice was mocking her, but she ignored the feeling. She wanted to check as quickly as possible whether her suspicions actually made sense.

"Whatever. Just let me--"

So let it be. A deal is a deal... What's your name, child?

"Yonaka. I am Yonaka Kurai."

So, Yonaka... Are you sure you want to go through this door?

"Of course! I--"

This time the voice decided to interrupt her.

No matter what? Will you give everything to fulfill your wish?

"I don't have anything to regret anymore," she said, but something in the eloquent silence made her doubt it.

Well then. If you say so...

The door gave way. Yonaka didn't give herself a chance to hesitate, and stepped into the clarity with a sense of relief. Now she was conscious. She knew what to do and how to stop being a burden to the one who saved her. She could have saved him from a fate he didn't deserve and then made them run away together. If only it were all that simple from the beginning and--

Stupid girl, she heard that voice again.

The brightness disappeared as if it had never been there. Yonaka stood still for a moment, staring into space in front of her. With her hand still gripped the doorknob, surprised that such a massive door opened so easily.

She blinked, trying to shake off the unwanted thoughts. Ah, where did she end up? This place, this castle, these guys... This was going to make you lose your mind.

"T-this is scary," she sighed, looking into the darkness ahead. And to think it was all because she missed her station! "But there's nowhere else... I think... I have to try."

Well, anything seemed better than waiting for those strange yellow creatures to get to her while she was standing outside. Yonaka knew one thing: she should stay away from them. From everyone, without exception.

But since she couldn't go back to the train station, she might as well check out what the walls of this mighty castle hid.

"...um, would this be trespassing?", she muttered, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. Not that that's the biggest problem in this situation.

Well, she had to come home, right?

She smiled, although it was difficult for her to do so. "Well... As long as I'm polite."

She stepped forward. The carpet muffled her footsteps as she entered the dark vestibule.

"Pardon meee..."

The Gray Garden: Stay [eng]

She showed up on time. She just showed up at the right time and fixed everything. The Gray Garden was saved, and so was he. She did it, so why? Why was she here? Why was she floating in the dark at first, only to find herself kneeling in the ashes?

Why?

Etihw's breathing was heavy. God was barely gasping for air, almost fighting for each of tchem.

Something was wrong. She was sure, even if she didn't understand what was going on. So why…?

It's not true. I need…

Holding back a cry, Eti opened her eyes and sighed with relief. She was sitting in the throne room, her head resting on the table. When did she even close her eyes? Tilting his head, the god looked around. Everything was in darkness, and most importantly, Etihw could not see a single living soul. Of course, he wasn't here, but...

"It was... just a dream, wasn't it?" she whispered to herself. But Eti was unable to shake off the bad feeling. "I showed up on time."

Why did those words sound like a lie?

But at the same time… she was sure. Trying to calm down and control her thoughts, she tried to recall the last few hours. To be honest, Etihw didn't remember the last time she worked that hard. Even after the war, none of them weren't trying to fix up everything at once. And yet, after everything that has happened in the last few days…

So she healed Wodahs and Grora. And everybody else, who needed help to recover.

And, of course, took care of his most serious injuries. Not all of them, knowing that he wouldn't accept her help if he had a choice. Eti thought it was childish, but she wasn't going to argue. Not this time. But the most important thing was that he survived. Miraculously, and not only because of her, but still.

That's all my fault.

Oh, she knew that. She knew that very well. This thought haunted her mind all the time, whatever she did. And it hurt, but…

She sprang up from her place. Without thinking, she ran down the corridor and for a moment froze in the darkness. It was late, yes, but she had to make sure. Though the thought seemed irrational, she wanted to see for herself that everything was all right. That she made it on time.

Her hands started to shake. She clenched them into fists, but even then they continued to tremble. In fact, Eti was shaking all over, barely keeping upright. She felt tired, much more than ever before. It was… unnatural. The god knew that stillness could be dangerous, but this time it was more than that. Etihw felt as if at any moment might crumble and join the ashes in which she had just knelt.

Ashes… What ashes? There were none and…

"I made it. I made it, right? I'll fix everything when--"

Etihw leaned against the wall and slowly slid to the floor. She closed her eyes, still frantically convincing herself.

But no matter how many times she said those words, she still didn't believe them.

*

It was like a hunch – so strange and too strong to just ignore. Almost like the one time Kcalb was sure that she was in trouble. It seemed so stupid, and at first he told himself it was because of tiredness, but then...

He couldn't sleep anyway. That's why he ended up in a darkened corridor. Around was quiet, which was to be expected at that late hour. The castle was usually empty at night. After everything that had happened, that wasn’t anything surprising anymore. Etihw was probably in her room, directly across the hall from the devil's bedroom. He was willing to bet she would sleep until noon as usual, and…

Something moved in the darkness. Kcalb stopped, staring suspiciously ahead. After a while, he heard rapid breathing, and what sounded like... sobs?

What in the world--?

It was only a moment. He moved closer and in a hurry he got to the figure hidden in the darkness. The sobbing stopped, only to start again when Etihw recognized him.

"Eti, what the-"

She didn't let him finish. Her hands tightened on the front of his coat, and she cried even louder.

"I didn't-- No... but then... and I made it on time, but..."

It was difficult to understand individual words. Moreover, there was nothing normal about what was happening. Kcalb froze, automatically embracing the god and leaning back so as not to land with her on the floor. In shock, he forgot to blush, but in the darkness it would be barely noticed anyway. Oh, besides, his battered body from the fight with Ivlis wasn't thrilled with such abrupt movements, but that ceased to matter when he caught Etihw's gaze.

Her dark eyes stared at him intently, larger than usual and devoid of the cheerful twinkle he had seen, especially when she was trying to make fun of him. Contrary. This time, Eti's gaze was mostly desperation, and her eyes shone unhealthily. And she was shivering, not from the cold at all, especially since her body felt... suspiciously warm.

Okay, that was new. And Kcalb had absolutely no idea how to deal with it.

"What happened? Why are you...?" Then he thought of something and added, "Do you feel alright?"

"What do you mean?" she mumbled so softly as he could barely hear her.

It seemed like she was only holding herself up because he was holding her, and then he realized she wasn't even trying to levitate anymore.

Great. That's what they needed.

"Eti. Hey, look at me," he urged as she looked away. "Why are you sitting here? And why are you crying?"

"No reason," she muttered, but he didn't get hit enough to believe it.

Kcalb sighed. He tried to push Etihw away to get a better look at her, but she wouldn't let him. She was still clinging to his cloak, then buried her face in the devil's chest and finally relaxed. This time he blushed, but he didn't try to fight her. He carefully ran his hand through her hair, suddenly feeling like he was holding a child in his arms. She was so petite, it didn't even seem to be weird.

"It's okay," he heard her muffled whisper. "Everything is okay now."

Was she convincing herself or him? He couldn't tell. Kcalb knew that she was acting strangely. Besides, she looked bad, and that didn't happen often. The devil didn't think it was even possible for her.

"Whatever you say," he murmured. "Did you sleep at all?"

"I have things to do." She shuddered as if she had only just realized it, then tried to free herself from his embrace. "It's okay. I had a bad dream, that's all. Now I have to go."

"Where?"

"To the village. There's a lot of damage and I have to--"

"It's the middle of the night!" he grumbled. "Etihw, damn, you're exhausted. And you almost certainly have a fever."

She hesitated. She looked at him more consciously.

"I'm a god, in case you forgot. I'm fine."

"Yes, a fallen one at best. I just picked you up off the floor."

She snorted. There was something hysterical about her laugh that didn't suit her at all. And that was really starting to worry him.

"I'll take you to your room, shall I?" he offered, embracing her. "You still have time to play savior."

"But--"

He rolled his eyes.

"You know what? Okay. If you're strong enough, then go."

He loosened his grip, but only for a second, because a moment later he had to grab her again to keep her from falling. It might have been funny if her behavior hadn't made him uneasy.

This time he had no other choice, so he took her in his arms. She turned out to be light, too fragile. She didn't protest, just watched him through narrowed eyes.

"What?"

"Nothing." She hesitated for a moment. "You're blushing, you know?"

"Shut-- shut up."

Exceptionally, she did. He was relieved that she looked calmer, even though her cheeks were flushed. Nevertheless, she was still shivering, so he wrapped his cloak around her before making his way to god's bedroom.

Etihw's room was significantly different from his own. It was more spacious and bright, which was especially noticeable in the daylight. What's more, there was a bed in the center – a grand one, full of countless pillows. No wonder, she sometimes slept through the day.

Kcalb was sure Eti had fallen asleep before he even got to her room, but he was wrong. The devil understood this when she grabbed his arm as he barely put her down on the pillows.

"Stay."

The devil froze, surprised at her request. He thought he had misheard, but her look and the grip on his shoulder suggested otherwise. She really wanted it.

All right. Maybe it was for the best, since she was acting irrationally. Besides, his brother would resent him if he found his god unconscious by the stairs, if she ever reached them.

He wordlessly laid down next to her, avoiding looking Eti in the eye at all costs, especially when she snuggled into him like one of the pillows. Was the warmth he felt suddenly related to the fever she was suffering from, or was it…something else?

"Sorry."

He blinked.

"Hmm?"

"For... that. And for earlier. I was almost late."

"It doesn't matter."

Was she really bothered by it? Sure, Kcalb had a whole list of grievances and excuses he was going to share with her. Basically, it all boiled down to one thing: I told you so!

But he hadn't imagined the conversation that way. In fact, he doubted she would remember it. And blaming her for anything when she aroused his sympathy was the last thing he wanted.

Not that he could even concentrate on forming sentences with her clinging to him like that. At least she wasn't shivering anymore, but one thing was for sure – sneaking out to his room without waking her up wasn't an option.

"I should fix everything," she whispered sleepily. "I feel useless."

"You'll do it in your own time. You've done enough for now."

She did not exert herself in this way even after the war, when only rubble remained of the world they knew. And it was his fault. Why was she trying to finish herself off? If he hadn't fainted after he and Yosafire landed at the bottom of the cliff, he would have figured it out sooner, but it still didn't make sense to him.

Why?

But maybe he knew. She'd never told him outright, and Kcalb didn't take the thought for real, but yes, he knew.

It was the first time they could lose everything because of someone other than themselves as well as eachv other too. It was a strange thought, but... would Eti really be more resigned to losing this world than to his death?

It was stupid. So stupid, and yet...

Stay.

So he stayed, falling asleep other than in a coffin for the first time in a long time. He felt the closeness of the god snuggled up against him, and it was surprisingly appropriate. Much better than suffocating darkness.

And to his surprise, he thought he could get used to it.

*

The morning light woke her up. She blinked, confused at first when she found herself in her room. Rubbing her eyes, Etihw sat up, only then realizing that she had missed a lot more, considering she wasn't alone.

"Oh."

Yeah. The memory of the day before was hazy, but not so much that she forgot how completely she had fallen apart in the hallway. The mind-fog was gone, and the god was feeling much better, but that didn't change the main thing.

"You're not going anywhere", she heard and shuddered.

"That's the last thing I expected to hear from you in bed," she announced with an innocent smile.

She knew it would be enough to provoke Kcalb, but she didn't think her words would work so well. Even if he was still drowsy, he must have woken up after he jumped up and nearly fell out of bed.

"Don't even dare," he snapped as she opened her mouth, ready to add something. Then something in his gaze softened as he looked her up and down. "You look better."

"Yes. I guess so. Thank you."

"Ahm."

She wanted to say something, but wasn't sure where to start. Kcalb didn't look at her either, but she was used to it. He'd have surprised her if he'd done otherwise, like... Well, yesterday.

"You stayed."

He twitched. She saw the fresh blush that came to his face.

"W-well, yes. To make sure you don't do anything stupid."

"Indeed. It might have been stupid," she agreed after a moment's thought.

"You can't fix everything at once."

"I am aware of this."

"Fantastic."

But he still watched her suspiciously, especially when she decided to get up. In the end, he seemed to think Eti could handle it, especially since she was floating on her own, as if nothing had happened.

"Thank you," she said before he could leave. He stopped in the doorway. She knew he was confused. "Be careful not to run into Wodahs, or I'll have to explain to him that you didn't use me at all. Well, not like when--"

"I preferred how you were delirious at night."

"And what was last night?" she teased.

To her surprise, he didn't look pissed off.

"Probably nothing. Age just kicked you in."

Etihw laughed, not hiding her surprise.

"Oh, that was good! It's almost a sense of humor."

The door slammed in response. Eti giggled, then sighed and looked down.

So she made it on time.

And she was grateful for it.

The Gray Garden: Under the Silver Moon [eng]

 

"Oh. Reficul-sama, where are we going?", asked Sin with a giggle.

Reficul just smiled, even if her wife couldn't see it. She held her hands at Sin's eyes, trying to prevent her from peeking.

"You need to trust me. Just a few more steps."

Sin groaned, but didn't complain. She slowly moved forward, slower than usual as she was blinded. Reficul without hesitation could tell that her lover was excited. Oh, and patience has never been her strong point, even if she really tried. Anyway, Reficul truly appreciated these efforts.

"Are we–"

"Almost", answered the passing demon shortly.

She spent all week planning this afternoon. Just like that, without any occasion. To be honest, Reficul strolled as usual and then found a place, which seemed to be perfect in every possible way. The devil was sure that her wife would be in love as well. Who wouldn't be?

Sin suddenly stopped and sniffed, while warm wind played with her long hair. Reficul smelled that too – a sweet scent of flowers and… something else. Something which was their goal.

So they were close. Without taking out her hands of Sin's eyes, Reficul gently pushed her forward.

"That's…", whispered Sin.

Reficul withdrew her hands.

"Now you can look."

Sin gasped. She covered her mouth, but her screech was loud and clear.

So she likes it. Good.

Reficul let her wife go ahead. Slowly stepped behind her with arms hidden behind the back. She carefully watched the movement of her companion, following the wriggling tail with her eyes. Left, right, left… Like a happy puppy.

Of course she was happy. Reficul counted on it from the very beginning, and she wasn't disappointed. Oh, even more! Sin's delighted face turned out to be the best possible reward. The sparkle in her eyes when she looked at the Sakura tree towering over the area was worth everything. This beautiful silver moon in the night sky.

The soft glow made everything more special, almost ethereal. It played with Sin's hair, bringing out silver highlights. The moon flower decorating her curls seemed clearer and in full bloom. So was the Sakura tree, whose sweet scent filled the air. Pink petals danced in the wind, and some of them fell to the ground, adorning the moonlit grass.

Reficul came closer to her lover and took her hand. Without a word, she led Sin under the tree, gesturing for her to sit under it. Before she could think, Sin's tail had wrapped around her, lifting her up and bringing her closer. Gleaming red eyes looked straight at Reficul, expressing nothing but wonder and love.

"Reficul-samaaaa", she singsonged and shocked her head. "How?"

"Oh. I was passing", answered the devil, shrugging her arms.

Sin giggled. Laughing, she buried her face in her wife's chest.

"Of course you did."

Refikul snorted. She ran her fingers through Sin's hair, playing with the strands for a moment. She touched her cheek, and the demon pulled her closer. Their lips connected in a kiss, sweet and innocent, at least for now.

The sweet smell made them dizzy, but it was good. As pleasant as the touch of warm hands when, not for the first time, they began to learn from each other. With a sweet yet sinful smile, Sin tilted her head back, letting Reficul's lips touch the sensitive skin of her neck. Her hands went to her lover's back, where they stopped at connecting the wings.

"Refikul-sama," she sighed.

The grass was soft, pleasant. Padded with petals fallen from the Sakura tree, it turned out to be better than even the softest bed.

Only the moon witnessed what happened next.

The silent keeper of the secret of two lovers.

Wadanohara and the Great Blue Sea: Gone with the Sin [eng]

The changes came sudden, almost in the blink of the eye. Beautiful crimson red became everything they knew – and which will be able to determine their future.

Sal was glad. He looked at a woman standing right before him. Her smile was cruel and beautiful at the same time. She was like that too. Red Sea ambassador finally met his other half; the witch he wanted all this time. Now she was there, just in reach of hand. Wadanohara's red eyes gazed at him, calling him and seeming to look through to his soul.

So he came to her. She welcomed him with a smile, way better than that innocence one Wada was giving to everyone before. Sal heart was beating with joy. There she was. The girl he lusted from the very beginning. He wasn't sure she understands the weight of the future they may have if she wants, but that didn't matter. He was ready to lead her.

"Sal."

He really adored the way Wadanohara said his name. She belonged to him, after all. Sometimes Sal still didn't believe in that, but then the witch was there – with her smile and pleasant look in her eyes. After everything what happened, she finally gazed at him with joy. That was the look he truly desired. The look which a woman could give to her lover, not someone unimportant to her.

Ah. That sweet smell of victory. Sometimes really seemed to be unreal.

Sal placed his hands at Wadanohara's waist. She smiled and let him hug her. The witch touched his chest, still smiling. Her eyes were sparkling, full of various emotions. Somehow, she reminded him of a child, but in the good way. She was the one he could guide.

You're mine…

"What do you want, my dear?", he asked, touched her hair. So soft…

"I'm just glad you came", she said truthfully. "Without you… Well, I feel… different?"

Sal rose his eyebrows.

"Different?"

"Yeah. Are you worried?" Her smile faded. "It's just a… feeling."

"What kind of feeling?", asked Sal, reaching to her cheek.

Wadanohara closed eyes and started to relax. So his touch made her responded. That's good.

"Mmm… I don't know?" She shrugged. "Is that matter? I'm okay. It's just…"

"Yes?" He didn't give up.

"Did you ever felt like… like you forgot something important?", she said, slowly choosing words. "I mean--"

"It's nothing important", interrupted her in rush.

Wadanohara looked at him with confusion, then just nodded. Sal sighed, not able to relax. That could be nothing, but her words…

No, he must not take that much risk. If was a possibility she could snap out and back to her normal self… No, no, no. Impossible. But he needed to be wary.

"Sal? Are you mad at me?"

He blinked. Trying to calm himself down, Sal brought Wadanohara closer.

"Not at all. Here." He forced the smile. "Wanna come outside? We could be strolling or something."

She agreed, but still looked at him with doubt. Damn it, he needed to be put himself together. For the sake of everyone.

The sea was strangely quiet, but he adored that state. They both used to that, besides quietness of the night seemed to be so calmly. Wadanohara relaxed and stopped ask him questions. Sal could only guess what was in her mind, but…

"Hey, Sal. Look!"

Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts. At first Sal afraid of she'll say something strange again, but everything cleared, when he brought eyes at his witch companion.

She, in turn, stared at the moon. The golden glow was breaking through the surface of the water, making Wadanohara smile. A blush appeared on her pale cheeks.

"Huh… You like it, don't you?", he asked with amusement.

He as well admired that view. The difference was that it not the moon that captivated him the most. But her. The way she looked against that golden aura, just like the day it all began. Clad in red, she dreamily gazed at the lone satellite, and there was something about the sight that Sal found fascinating.

He wanted to have her with him. Now.

She belonged to him.

"Will you dance with me?"

Wadanohara shuddered. Her red eyes landed directly on him, expressing surprise.

"Really? Here?"

"Why not?"

She shocked her head.

"Without music?"

"It that a problem?" Sal smiled.

He offered her his hand, relieved that she took it. He pulled her to him, and when there was no resistance, he moved to a common rhythm. She giggled, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"That's nice."

It certainly was. He held her close to him, enjoying the closeness of her body. The familiar scent was all Sal needed. Admittedly, it still wasn't the kind of intimacy he craved the most, but... all in good time. It had to be enough for a start.

Wadanohara relaxed. She didn't ask for anything anymore, just kept dancing and in his arms. If she still had any doubts, they vanished without a trace. Little things she didn't need to remember.

She was the one Sal wanted more than anything else. His beautiful witch, the lady of the Red Sea. And he intended to protect and guide her as befitted her faithful ambassador.

Mogeko Castle: Let the Rain Wash Away Your Sins [eng]

Dream was sharp like a memory. Too colorful, emotional, too… real. She was standing in the center of the living room, holding a knife. Her hands were shaking, also her body. Blood scent made Yonaka feel sick. As if that wasn't enough, when she looked at her hands and noticed its cover with something scarlet…

No. No, no, no…

Something was wrong. She knew that. Yonaka also was sure she had forgotten something very important. Something she didn't want to remember, but…

It's okay, my dear. You needn't to.

A room seemed to blur. Yonaka stayed still, trying to catch her breath. The voice she suddenly heard was… so calm and hypnotizing. And familiar, even if a girl didn't know when she heard it last time. Did she ever…?

That wasn't important. Her body started to relax, while a strange voice hummed some kind of melody. Something in that rhythm reminded Yonaka a rain. Like the softly falling raindrops she had danced through as a little girl. That seemed to be so nostalgic and soft at the same time.

And there she was, suddenly standing in the garden she barely remembered. Was that real? Or maybe she was dreaming? Whatever, if only she hadn't to fight with that forbidden memories.

So she didn't. Yonaka lifted her face to the cloudy sky with relief. The drops were like tears, though she wasn't sure why she should cry. After all, everything was fine… Yes?

Red has gone into oblivion, the living room too. A calm came over her, which she accepted with as much gratitude as the soothing whisper that seemed to caress her ears.

There you go, my child. Let the rain wash away your sins.

What sins? She didn't know, but that wasn't important. Not now, not ever. While she kept living an everlasting dream, nothing wrong could happen.

And that was okay.

The Gray Garden: The Past Is In The Past [eng]

They were living in peace. Whatever that really meant. Kcalb wasn't sure, but pretended he didn't care. To be honest, the devil somehow enjoyed the sudden calm, which became part of his daily life. No fight, no blood, no rage… That's all were so… soothing.

However, he wasn't able to get used to this new world. To her world. The same he once destroyed. And here we go! God somehow made him feel guilt. How unusual is that be?

As much as the peace between us, he thought and sighed.

The outside got darker. Kcalb  rarely went out during the day. Sunlight irritated him, too bright and warm, different from the cold embraces of earth he used to. What's more, after twilight, he didn't have to worry about meeting anyone. Villagers – both, angels and demons – were afraid of the dark, which seemed understandable.

So he started to get outside after sunset and just strolled, sightseeing this new world. He avoided seeing his brother and, more importantly, Etihw. Especially in the case of a god, he doubted they had anything else to say to each other. They just lived next to each other because it was more convenient.

Why did he even agree to something like that…?

Whatever. Loneliness was soothing as well. Different from during the war, when it seemed to be a warning. Kcalb still wasn't able to lower his guard, but maybe in future…

For the first time, he decided to see what was south of the village. He passed through a sleepy town, curious looking at all these houses and buildings. So she worked. He knew Etiwh was a god, but still… Her creations impressed him all the time, especially now, when he didn't mean to destroy them.

The sound of water brought him out of his thoughts. He looked  ahead to discover clearly view of starry sky and the sea below. There was something what seemed to be a cliff. Black water was slowly waving, making a smooth sound. That was… so nice.

Suddenly, Kcalb felt someone's presence. Too familiar, especially for him. He tensed, then looked around. Devil's gaze lingered on the figure turned back to him. She was sitting on the edge, calm and relaxed. Long black hair was over her shoulders and back. Etihw didn't turn away, but Kcalb was sure she was feeling him as well as he felt her.

He hesitated and was able to withdraw, but her voice stopped him in place.

"You can stay if you want. I don't mind."

Kcalb didn't answer and just stayed still. He looked away, unsure what to do. When did they talk last time? He wasn't sure, but it must have been a few weeks ago.

"You know, I wondered if you ever go outside. I didn't want things to get so awkward between us", she said, just keep talking, while he looked at her in silence. "I'm not sure what to do anyway."

What did she mean? Without thinking, Kcalb stepped forward and slowly came closer. He was able to see her face and find out she was smiling – a bit nervous, but still.

Devil sat next to her, gazing to see. They were in silence for a while. On the corner of his eyes, Kcalb saw she was sitting still with her legs off the edge. The white robe she was wearing blew gently in the breeze.

First time he saw her in that calm state. Etihw didn't seem concerned that she might be attacked by him or pushed into the sea. Did she really trust him that much? After everything he did? She wasn't a saint, of course, but…

Suddenly she looked at him. Kcalb blushed and quickly looked away.

"Hey", a god said, holding back a laugh. "You're not very talkative, are you?"

"I'm…" He started, but paused.

"It's okay. I like to talk, so don't mind. Sorry not sorry."

He huffed. What was wrong with her? Did she really want him to chit-chat? He didn't know this side of her. In his eyes, she was an enemy, at least until recently. A god of great power that he wanted to destroy. Until the last moment, but then he saw something in her eyes…something hard to describe and…

Kcalb blushed even more.

"But on the other hand, keeping the conversation going just by me is no fun, so… What do you think?" She nodded at the water in front of her. "About the sea. Personally, I like it very much."

He didn't answer right away. He cleared his throat, trying to control the strange tightness he suddenly felt.

"It's… so calm", he said at last.

"Yes… Yes, it is", she admitted with a smile. "That's why I always came here to rest. And thinking as well."

Etihw's last words seemed to be addressed mostly to herself. Still in thought, a god ran her fingers through her hair. She wrapped a long strand around her finger and studied it carefully. Kcalb looked at her in silence, trying to figure out why she told him all of these things. Did she really want someone to chat with? Even if that was true… Why did she choose him?

Etihw seemed different from before. Maybe Kcalb saw her that way, because she no longer acted like the angry god, whose fall he wanted. For the first time, he noticed how small she was. The ornate robe hid her filigree figure, and the fact that Etihw was hovering most of the time made her look taller than she really was. Why hadn't he noticed it before?

Something touched the back of his hand. He clenched it into a fist and was about to take it away, when he realized it was her hair. They were smooth and surprisingly soft to the touch.

"You look at me so strange…", she whispered, tilting her head.

Kcalb almost fell from the cliff, surprised by her words. He pulled away, straightening up sharply.

This time she laughed.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I'm just thinking… Oh."

Etihw got up. Without any warning, she grabbed the hem of her robe and began to pull it off. She tossed it aside, leaving her in nothing but a simple dress. Kcalb stared at her in disbelief, completely shocked.

"What the hell are you…?"

He shook his head. Damn, was she testing him? Was it some kind of trick?

But she was looking at him with the most innocent, confused expression he ever saw.

"What?"

"What?!", he repeated. Was she kidding? "Are you serious?"

Etihw furrowed her brows. She smoothed the fabric of her petticoat, looking at it thoughtfully.

"Hm... It's more comfortable, but that's not it. I could..."

Her hands began to glow. Kcalb growled and covered himself with his cloak. He didn't want to know what she was doing.

"You've just taken you to dress-up right now?!", he moaned, not hiding his irritability.

"Something wrong? I've been thinking about it for a long time, you know. There's no need to be so formal, and since you're uncomfortable around me…"

"Not at all!"

Why did she even care? How had she been able to act so casual around him? Okay, they made peace, but this?

He dared to peek at her from behind his cloak. Her robe changed, no longer pure white. It resembled the one Etihw had worn before, though it was more modest and less restrictive. God didn't seem so powerful anymore.

"You don't have to be lurking. I'm dressed, you know?"

"It's all I need ...", he muttered, still shielding his face.

"Did you say anything?"

He ignored the question.

"Do you often do things like that around other people?", he asked instead.

"What things?" Apparently she really didn't understand. Could it be that she was so... innocent? "It's just a few changes. I'm a god, remember?"

As if he couldn't! But it didn't make him feel any better. He didn't understand her. And if that wasn't enough, he found the situation really odd. How did they even get here?

Etihw obviously didn't care. She was still examining her new robe, playing with the wide sleeves.

"What do you think?"

"I really don't care what you look like."

She nodded.

"I need help," she announced cheerfully, and sat back down on the edge of the cliff.

"Did you hear what I said?"

"Of course. But that doesn't mean I can't ask for help," she remarked calmly. As if nothing had happened, she turned her back on him. "I want you to cut my hair."

Kcalb blinked as if she were speaking to him in a foreign language.

"Wha-?"

"Come on! I can't do it myself. I don't have eyes in the back of my head."

"You're a god. You just said it yourself", he remarked, backing away. "And why now? You have Wodash anyway, so…"

"I'm a god with no eyes in the back of my head", she corrected him and sighed. "Please! Pretty please!"

No, he definitely didn't think she was like that. He had his opposite in front of him. The real Etihw turned out to be lively, impulsive and far too loud.

And it was definitely hard to say no to her.

"I don't… Ugh, fine!"

He immediately regretted it. Starting at her long hair, Kcalb was wondering what to do. Just the fact that he was about to touch them seemed…

"Here." She gathered her hair together. "Cutting is your specialty, isn't it?", she joked, but he only winced at the words.

Was that supposed to be a prank? As they fought, he hurt her many times, and she hurt him. Did she really want to go back to that?

He dismissed this thought. He touched her hair with trembling hands.

Yes, they were soft.

"Where…?", he began with doubt.

Etihw pondered.

"Below the shoulders? I'll rely on your sense."

Great. At worst, he was about to start another war over badly cut hair. It sounded promising.

It was one quick cut. Dark curls fell to the ground without making a sound. What a pity…, Kcalb thought as he moved away. He looked down at his hand with doubt, but there was no sign of claws. Reassured, he covered himself with his cloak, trying to keep from staring too long at the motionless god.

Etihw tilted her head left and right. She touched her short hair, examining its length. She gracefully jumped to her feet, then turned to the devil, who watched her.

"That's what I meant," she said with a smile. "How I look?"

At first, he was going to repeat that he wasn't interested in her appearance. Still, he studied a god's face, avoiding her eyes.

Dark, short strands framed Etihw's face, enhancing its round shape. She looked softer and more serene, as if some enormous weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Kcalb doubted it was just the cut of his hair.

"I guess...you look good."

Etihw giggled.

"What a precise answer," she said with amusement. She stretched like a cat. "I'm going back to the castle. I need a mirror." She smiled. "Hey, Kcalb… We talked and nothing happened. I say that just in case you ever want to join me. I can drive a monolog if need be", she said, and it sounded serious. "Thank you for your help and nice company. If I don't like my hair, I'll come back with a complaint."

He snorted. What was that? She must have been joking, which he still thought was unnatural. The peace between them was strange in itself, but…

Etihw was about to leave, but turned to him at the last moment.

"I wanted to tell you earlier, but there was no chance. The past is the past. That's all, though..." To his surprise, she smiled mischievously. "I had no idea you're blushing such a cute way."

"Excuse me?!"

She was gone before he could react to those words. Kcalb sat very still, trying to understand what had just happened. Not that it's the first time they've faced each other, but...

With a groan, he hid his face in his hands. He felt that he was still blushing, but luckily no one was there to notice.

And anyway… Leaving the past in the past?

He glanced at Etihw's hair still on the ground. Then he understood. Maybe not her and this new world she created, but... for the beginning it had to be enough.

Mogeko Castle: What does family mean to you? [eng]

 

The moment of quiet felt unnatural, but Yonaka was glad for that. She was sitting on the bed in the one of the empty room at Moffuru's floor. Defect Mogeko said they can rest for a while, so she believed him. Yonaka was pretty sure that both of them needed this anyway.

From the distant, she could hear voices, but none of them seemed to be disturbing. There were mostly sounds of infected Mogeko's – really cute "Fluff!", which didn't match the symptoms of the supposedly deadly illness. Yonaka thought that's sound kind of soothing.

She closed her eyes, trying to relax. If only that is possible…, she thought and groaned. I need to go home. Oh, brother…

Something turned in her stomach. Did she really want that? Of course, but…

The sound of the door opening snapped Yonaka out of her thoughts. She quickly straightened up, looking straight ahead.

"You're back", she said with relief, smiling as she saw Defect Mogeko. "How is that?"

"Fine, I guess. No sight of Moge-ko or her pet", assured her. "We can stay here for a while, but not too long. Moffuru stayed outside to make sure we're safe. If something happens, he gives us a sign. I know how to come at floor six, so nothing wrong will happen."

"Sounds good to me. But I'm not sure I wanna him to take that much risk."

"Don't worry, Missy. We used to that." Defect come closer, then sat next to her. "He seems to like you."

"Really? Gee, all of you are so nice." Yonaka shocked her head. "I mean… The special ones?"

"Yeah… I'm not sure why, but all of them are a bit different."

"You're as well."

"Yeah."

He didn't say anything more, but it didn't matter. Yonaka restated for a few seconds, fighting with her thoughts. She was about to ask him something, but…

"Mr. Defect Mogeko?"

Yonaka's companion looked at her with curious.

"What?"

"I'm just thinking… I mean… I think I realized something back then to be honest", she said, slowly putting words together. "May I ask you something?"

"You did", he noticed.

She almost smiled. Right, she did.

"Don't tase me." She became serious. "Before we were running from Moge-ko, you wanted to be told me something. What was that?"

"Nothing special."

"But…" Yonaka paused. "Well… That's not my question anyway."

Defect looked at her with doubt. She wasn't sure, but he seemed to be a bit nervous.

"Just spit it out, Missy."

Yonaka sighed. Here comes nothing.

"Are you one of them?"

He tensed, but didn't look surprised.

"So you did figure out", mumbled, looking away. "Yeah… Guess I am. Or rather was. I'm defective, remember?"

"It's look like they don't care."

Now everything started to clear. She became suspicious when he told her about the creation of the castle. Then they landed here, and although she was terrified, Yonaka noticed how Moffuru was towards her protector. There was also the fact that he didn't seem concerned about the presence of his sick kin. In that case...

"None of us like mogeko." Defect shrugged. "Nothing unifies a people like a common enemy", he joked, but she sensed the tension in his voice.

"It's something more", she said thoughtfully. "You're brothers or something?"

Defect laughed.

"What? No! How did you come to that?"

She blushed, but she didn't back down. He could laugh if he wanted, but Yonaka knew better. To be honest, she could believe that Prosciutto Fairy gave her a key for purpose. Did she know that Yonaka will meet Defect and set him free? Maybe. In this castle, everything seemed to be possible.

"Say, Mr. Defect… What does family means to you? I'm just curious."

"You ask me a really strange things, Missy", he mumbled without looking at her. Did she make him feel uneasy?

"Maybe I'm just tired. Mind to answer me?"

"Is that really that important? We're Mogekos."

" Whatever that mean." She rolled her eyes. "Special Mogekos are… special, yes? All of you seems to be… well, more human I guess?"

"Now you're being ridiculous."

"Tired", she corrected him. "Anyway…"

"Try to say that mogeko could be father for us, then I promise I'll hit you."

This time it was she who laughed.

"I'm not that tired!"

"Good. May we change a subject?"

"If you really want…"

He didn't answer, but she didn't mind. For a few seconds, they just sat in silence. She was close to shut her eyes and try to sleep, but then…

"Missy?", he whispered. She barely heard his voice, but nodded her head. "That's… a nice thought, you know? Impossible but nice."

Yonaka sighed. She didn't change her mind, but didn't want to fight with him.

"It's nothing bad if you want a family. And I think blood ties doesn't matter. Sometimes that's just a people who care…"

That's right. Her thoughts one again came to her brother. Part of Yonaka was scared to death at the thought of what awaited her when she got home. But the second one… Oh, how would she give up from Shinya?

I'm coming, brother. Whatever was happened to you, I'll be for you.

Yonaka smiled. Yeah, now she was sure. She needs to go home and…

"Fluff?!"

She yelped. One of Mofukos came from nowhere, suddenly appeared at bed, right before her and also surprised Defect. Both of them backed away in panic, so abruptly that her guardian fell off the bed.

"Wha…"

"Fluff?", repeated the fluffy creature.

Yonaka grabbed it, holding them in place. Cradling the wonderfully oblivious Mofuko, she leaned over the edge of the bed to look at her battered companion.

"I think we should go", she said, holding back laughter.

"Indeed."