Ch. 6: Touching a Nerve
Rufus: “I’m just pissed off, so I’m going to go have some fun…-.”
Taking in the shadows that rose from Rufus and the child screaming…
(It can’t be…)
My imagination running wild, I hurried towards the sound of the scream…-.
…
……
My apprehension grew as I drew nearer.
(Rufus…!)
Within the swirling darkness, I searched for Rufus, then…-.
I spotted a white thread, then the darkness scattered and faded.
OO: “What was…”
Rufus: “A stray Dream Eater. It responded to the dreams of those kids, see?”
OO: “Rufus!”
Rufus stomped on a remaining whisp of darkness, then his gaze dropped.
There stood a child, trembling to the point he looked like he’d break apart.
(Rufus… saved that boy.)
OO: “Are you alright?”
Boy: “H-Help me!!”
OO: “Ah, wait…!”
His fear likely not yet abated, the boy’s expression screwed up in terror as he ran away.
Rufus: “You’re just gonna leave us? Head home to your SUPER nice family where they’ll baby you and calm you down huh? Hah… I should’ve let that Dream Eater take a bite out of him; that would totally have made this worth it.”
OO: “Don’t say something like that…!”
(He saved that kid, and yet he says something like that…-.)
I was filled with misery, and the words overflowed before I could stop myself.
OO: “You’re the one who found the boy Rufus. I’m sure he’d have been unbearably terrified and alone if you hadn’t. You can understand that feeling, right…?”
The second I said it…-.
The smile on Rufus’ face vanished, and his brow scrunched up in displeasure.
Rufus: “And what the hell do you know?”
OO: “!”
Rufus: “Don’t you dare talk like you know me.”
He practically spat the words in my face, then vanished.
Ch. 7: An Irritated Heart
I ran through the town, trying to chase Rufus through the bustling with people and the shining lanterns.
Finally, I spotted his tall figure and caught up to him.
OO: “Rufus, please tell me if I did something to hurt your feelings.”
Rufus: “Aaah, I said don’t worry about it. I just despise it when people act overly familiar with me.”
Rufus’ mouth quirked into a smile, but he kept walking without looking at me.
Just as I thought we’d been growing closer, Rufus’ heart was now even further away…
(I can’t let it end like this…)
OO: “Rufus…!”
I walked in front of him so we were facing each other, blocking his path.
As I faced him head-on, suddenly, his long fingers grabbed my jaw.
OO: “……!”
He held on painfully tight, and I could feel the annoyance radiating off him.
Rufus: “I told you. Drop it. You shouldn’t get any closer to me anyway, right? I’m not gentle.”
OO: “What do you mean…?”
Rufus: “Even now you’re still thinking about OTHER people’s needs. I’m more or less one of your comrades, right Princess? Did you think I’d be happy if you were nice to me? Just with a smile and throwing out words as sickeningly sweet as chocolate.”
OO: “That’s…-.”
Rufus: “But the time has come for that spell to end. Do you know what’ll happen if it goes any further? I think I might just hurt you. Break you, Princess.”
OO: “What ‘spell’…?”
Rufus: “The one of ‘beauty’. Midnight has come and the spell is broken. And once that happens, everything from it disappears. AHAHA! With this, all those beautiful things from today will be completely forgotten. Otherwise, we’ll cause each other to rot.”
His voice was unnaturally high, and a heart-wrenching pain rose in my chest.
OO: “Why do you want to destroy it? Is it because you want to deny it happened and keep your distance?”
(Even though I wanted us to understand each other, little by little…)
Rufus: “Well you see… it’s just like I said, isn’t it? You were just going to keep an eye on me today.”
There wasn’t a trace of kindness in Rufus’ eyes, only a terrifying, frozen light.
(Even still…)
I was sure that if I backed down now, Rufus’ heart would freeze over, and I’d never be able to reach it.
OO: “Are you afraid of facing your own feelings?”
(That’s what it seems like… that he’s afraid to face himself…)
Rufus: “You’re such a pain… and here I warned you and everything…”
OO: “Rufus…”
I thought I imagined hearing a huff of laughter from him, and then…-.
OO: “……!”
My warm was pulled with a painful amount of force and suddenly we were much closer.
Rufus: “I’ll ruin you, just like you wanted. After this, you’ll forget about EVERYTHING.”
His cold eyes seemed to warp…-.
There was no escape, and Rufus pressed his lips to mine.
OO: “Nn…!”
I couldn’t see whether it was anger or sorrow that dwelled in his expression…
All I felt was the glide of his hot lips on mine, and that heat unavoidably sank into me.
Ch. 8: Fear of Refusal
Rufus: “I’ll ruin you, just like you wanted. After this, you’ll forget about EVERYTHING.”
The grip as he held me in his arms was to the point of pain.
OO: “Stop…!”
Even as I turned my face away from him, I couldn’t break free.
Rufus chuckled, his breath grazing my cheek.
Rufus: “If you want me to do this kind of thing, you need to be close, right? Seeing as you’re so genuine about it, that’s pretty progressive of you, for a princess.”
OO: “That’s not…!”
I impulsively raised my hand over my head, but Rufus easily caught it…
Rufus: “Hehehe… AHAHA! Did you really think that would stop me? You’re too naïve, Princess!”
He pinned me down with his eyes swirling with madness and I took a shaky breath.
OO: “Rufus…”
Rufus: “That’s a fairy tale for those nice-guy princes you hang out with!”
As if making a show of it, he placed his lips to the back of my hand.
I felt the heat through my skin and it spread throughout my body.
OO: “……”
His fingers slowly traced their way down my back.
Rufus: “Ahaha… now I’ll etch some truly horrible things into your body.”
OO: “Stop…!”
Rufus: “I wonder what’ll happen if I thoroughly trample on your heart… maybe then you’ll become just like me on the inside.”
Rufus’ lips drew nearer.
But I looked straight at him, not turning away.
OO: “Rufus… stop it.”
Rufus: “……”
I could feel the pounding of my heart throughout my entire body.
(Am I afraid of Rufus…? No, that’s not it. I want to know you…-.)
I didn’t know how much time passed as we looked at each other.
Finally, the madness in his eyes began to ease…-.
Rufus: “Don’t try to get closer to me again…”
His voice was low, practically oozing with anger, and yet…
Even now, he looked to be on the verge of tears, and my heart ached.
Rufus: “There won’t be a second time. Got it, Princess?”
OO: “Rufus…”
Rufus: “Go on, run away. Run off to your nice princes.”
Leaving it at that, Rufus let go of me.
(I do want to run. But…)
I watched Rufus’ eyes, and for some reason, my feet wouldn’t move.
His words and actions were in direct opposition to each other, and his eyes seemed to be asking something of me…
(He’s rejecting me, because he’s afraid of being rejected himself…)
OO: “I just want to know what you’re feeling Rufus…”
Rufus: “I already told you… you still don’t get it…”
OO: “If something is causing you pain, I want us to figure it out together. I want to protect you when you look like you’re hurting. Is that so wrong?”
Rufus: “……”
I spoke desperately, getting only got a short and scornful laugh in return, which left me at a loss for words.
(Even so, I won’t give up. What I want to do now is…-.)
Taking a deep breath, I looked Rufus right in the eye.
OO: “You’re my precious companion, so I want to pray for your happiness alongside you!”
Rufus: “!”
Rufus’ eyes wavered slightly, seemingly from shock.
Rufus: “A precious companion… ahaha…”
OO: “Ah… of course, you don’t have to force yourself to tell me anything… just a little at a time is fine. So, Rufus…-.”
As I argued over this, Rufus suddenly put his hand to my mouth, cutting me off.
Rufus: “Hold up a sec…”
The words he spoke seemed to tremble.
(What’s going on…?)
Rufus: “I don’t have any experience with stuff like this. I can’t handle this constant, straightforward approach of yours…”
Rufus let out a deep sigh, unable to hide his displeasure.
However, his expression had changed… and I thought he almost looked troubled.
OO: “What’s wrong…?”
Nervous, I looked at his face…-.
(No way… his face is red…?)
I was confused at seeing that faintly scarlet band across his face…
Rufus: “Don’t look at me like that.”
Rufus moved his hand to block my vision.
With him so close, I could feel his heat and smell his scent.
OO: “Rufus…?”
Rufus: “You’re quite the vicious princess, OO.”
There was a gentleness to his voice as he said my name near my ear.
Then…
Rufus: “Don’t fluster my heart any further. It’s still a wreck.”
He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead, then took his hand away, restoring my sight.
Rufus: “A~ah, I’m starving after all that running around. I want chocolate.”
OO: “Chocolate…?”
Rufus: “Here, come with me. I want you to pick out a fine chocolate that suits my tastes that I’ve never had before~. You will, right Princess?”
The kindness I was hearing from the darkness was a complete transformation, and once more Rufus was his fickle self, calling out to me.
(But…)
I could still feel the lingering heat on my forehead…
I walked along beside him, not wanting to let go of that warmth.
END