Ch. 6: A Broken Promise
My imagination running wild, I hurried towards the sound of the scream…-.
A black cloud blew down the street and briefly blocked my vision.
OO: “!”
After the momentary shock, I opened my eyes and…
A young boy had collapsed, motionless on the ground.
OO: “Oh no…!”
Rufus: “Ah, that’s unfortunate.”
On the opposite of the black cloud that still wavered slightly, Rufus walked forward, his pace unhurried.
(It can’t be…)
Taking in the black cloud coming from Rufus, and the boy’s scream…
OO: “Rufus… what happened?”
Rufus: “As you can see, the boy was attacked, and his dreams devoured. The poor thing. Oh well, seems like he still has enough to keep him alive.”
Rufus spoke as if this was someone else’s problem entirely, and the disquiet in my pounding heart increased.
OO: “No… Rufus… you did this?”
Rufus: “……”
I took his refusal to answer as a confirmation…-.
OO: “Why!?”
Rufus: “Why? Ahaha! I don’t need a reason every single time a dream gets devoured!”
OO: “You said you wanted to join us…”
Rufus: “I don’t seem to remember being told I could join only if I stopped devouring dreams though, right?”
OO: “!”
Those cold, dark eyes looked down at me.
Rufus: “And anyway, is it really okay to just leave that kid there collapsed on the ground?”
I hurriedly turned away from Rufus and fell to my knees beside the boy.
As sorrow and frustration warred within me, I grasped my ring and prayed.
Ch. 7: How to Apologize
As the white light of my ring diminished, everything returned to the deep red color of sunset…-.
The boy stirred, hopefully waking up soon.
(Thank goodness…)
As I felt myself relax with relief, the sorrow I’d pushed down before came flowing back out.
————————–
Rufus: “Princess, forget what I just told you. I just HATE when people pry into my business.”
————————–
(After that, Rufus seemed different… maybe I made him angry… and that’s why he stole the dreams?)
I slowly looked up and noticed a little girl, slowly looking around.
Girl: “Is he okay?”
OO: “Yeah, he’ll be fine.”
Girl: “And what about the other man…?”
OO: “The other man?”
The girl rushed over to me and crouched down.
Girl: “He protected us from the Dream Eaters… but that boy fell behind trying to run away…”
OO: “!”
(That means… Rufus saved them…-.)
I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion, and I reflexively turned to where Rufus had been.
OO: “Rufus…-!”
But Rufus was gone…
And in his place was Tell’s book, the one he’d so diligently held on to, dropped on the ground…-.
…
……
I returned to the inn we were staying at, book in hand as I went to Rufus’ room.
Rufus: “…what?”
Rufus wouldn’t look at me as he let me inside.
I felt like I was about to lose my nerve, but I held the book out to him.
OO: “I’m sorry.”
Rufus: “…I don’t really get why you’re apologizing, Princess.”
OO: “You saved those kids. But I misunderstood and accused you… I really am sorry…”
Rufus: “Ah, that. Well, I said I wanted to join your little group but it’s not surprising you didn’t believe me.”
OO: “I believe you… And after this, I’ll…-!”
Despite my words, Rufus’ expression didn’t change, and he continued to look down at me.
Rufus: “Remember what I said? I‘m not gonna punish you for hurting me.”
OO: “Y-you’re right… sorry.”
Rufus: “At times like this, I want you to put on a cute face and tell me how worried you were about me.”
OO: “Huh…?”
Rufus sat on the bed and took my hand.
Rufus: “If you want to apologize, you should do it in a way that’ll make me happy.”
I thought he was going to pull me into his arms, but I was suddenly flopped onto the bed.
OO: “……!”
I reflexively tried to get up, but Rufus held me down and I couldn’t move…
OO: “Rufus…?”
Above me, Rufus’ eyes were shining with delight.
Ch. 8: A Little Closer to His Heart
Rufus: “If you want to apologize, you should do it in a way that’ll make me happy.”
Those eyes that looked down at me were lit with a brilliant scarlet flame and shone with something I couldn’t quite understand…
Rufus made a pleased hum, almost like a cat’s purr, as his long fingers stroked my lips.
OO: “A way that’ll make you happy…?”
Rufus: “I want a cute, whispered apology to pass these lips. Something like ‘I’ll do anything to apologize’.”
OO: “I can’t say I’ll do anything…”
I felt my cheeks heat and I turned away from Rufus.
(What should I do…)
Pinned by his arms like I was, I couldn’t get out even as I squirmed in the space between his long legs.
Rufus: “Aah… I’m at my limit.”
OO: “!”
Thinking he’d grown tired of waiting, I reflexively closed my eyes as the clothing draped over his torso fell over me.
But…-.
I heard the sound of the bed creaking, and then Rufus was right next to me.
OO: “Rufus? Um…-.”
Rufus: “I can’t do it anymore. We spent all day walking around and I’m SO tired…”
OO: “You mean…”
Suddenly, I remembered what had happened before this and looked up at him in confusion.
OO: “You mean the reason you came back before me, and the reason you were in such a bad mood was because…”
Rufus: “Yeah… I was exhausted.”
OO: “What!?”
(So he’s… not mad at me?)
Rufus: “Ahaha, though it’s too bad I didn’t get to see you looking so troubled a little longer, Princess.”
Rufus tangled his arms around me, pulling me close to his chest.
OO: “! L-let me go…”
Rufus: “Just go to sleep. I’ll wake you when it’s tomorrow…-.”
While firmly held in his arms, I immediately heard the soft sounds of him sleeping…
OO: “Rufus…?”
Rufus: “……”
(He really fell asleep…)
But I couldn’t move, his arms still tight around me.
(Geez…)
I could do nothing but let out a deep sigh as I watched Rufus, defenseless in his sleep…-.
…
……
Sensing a faint light, I slowly opened my heavy eyes…-.
(Where… am I…-)
My mind was still a bit foggy as I tried to wake myself up when…
Rufus: “Good morning, Princess. Sleep well?”
A voice from right beside me caused me to jump.
(I fell asleep with Rufus…!)
I frantically tried to leap out of the bed but…-.
Rufus: “How cruel, Princess.”
Pulling me back, I found myself once again wrapped up in Rufus’ arms.
Rufus: “And here we just spent the whole night together. Stay here a little longer and warm me up.”
With a teasing tone to his voice, Rufus held on to me even tighter.
OO: “That’s because you wouldn’t let me go…”
I couldn’t avoid the heat I felt coming off his skin and I found myself burrowing in a little closer.
As if noticing this, Rufus smiled.
Rufus: “It’s been a while since I slept that well. I wonder if it’s because we slept together.”
OO: “! Okay, I get it, now let go…”
Despite my complaining, Rufus just smiled and made no move to remove his arms.
Rufus: “Maybe it’s because of that look of yours that sees through everything, and I really was irritated… but I’m fine all this making us even, Princess.”
OO: “What?”
Surprised that he would say that, I looked up at Rufus and…
He placed a warm palm against my cheek.
Rufus: “Since I’m in a good mood, I’ll tell you one truth. Yesterday, I waited a long time for you to come and find me. You see, I wanted to play a little game about whether or not you’d come looking for me if I disappeared.”
(So that’s why he disappeared in the first place…)
Rufus: “And to kill some time, I played a game with that kid. Princess, you’re the only one who has ever come looking for me and apologized to me. And that made me really happy.”
OO: “Really…?”
Rufus laughed, a light-sounding laugh as he stroked my cheek as if I were something precious.
Rufus: “That’s it for today. If you want to know more about me… I’ll tell you if you sleep with me again.”
Rufus touched the tip of his nose to mine.
It was the first time I’d seen such a gentle expression on his face, but almost immediately it changed back to his teasing smile…
Rufus: “So? Since you’re an early riser Princess, isn’t there something you’d like to do next?”
OO: “No there is not…!”
I pushed on Rufus’ arms and turned so he couldn’t see my face.
In the next moment…
Rufus: “ ‘She is a godsend unto me’… I guess that’s what this feeling is.”
I wondered if I had imagined him saying that…
But I could see behind me that Rufus was smiling.
END