gigiisoul

Chapter 1: The Verdict.

Their paths were already crossed, intertwined, I would say. No matter how much Kuzuryu wanted to distance himself, no matter how much he knew she was crazy, he wasn't going to leave. He never would; he didn't dare.

— "You're tense." — Mira said, her voice both venomous and sweet. She stood beside Kuzuryu, a few steps behind. They both watched as the beach burned, as the hotel turned to ash, sealing the fate of several executives and innocent people.*

— "I'm not tense. I'm... thinking." — He said. His eyes were fixed on the growing flame, already knowing what he had to do. —

— "On what?" — She asked. Her eyes were fixed on her loved one, her life partner... on her angel.

— "How unfair this is." — Kuzuryu replied, feeling the full weight on his shoulders. It wasn't his fault, of course. But the uncertainty remained. Perhaps he being a lawyer was the reason for his feelings... or perhaps not.

— "You and your logic, always getting in the way." — Mira said, her fingers tracing Kuzuryu's shoulder, as if she were wiping away any remaining ash.

— "Mira, you know that's not the case—" — And there it was, that pressure in his chest every time she touched him.

That feeling... it bothered him deeply; he didn't know what it was. But if there was one thing he knew, it was about her.

— "If you could judge me, Kuzuryu, not as the Queen of Hearts, but as a person, as a woman, what would your verdict be?" — She stood in front of him, her hands resting on his arms. She wanted him to look at her; she needed him to.

— "..." — Kuzuryu didn't answer; they both knew there would be no response. He felt a shiver run through his body. His hands instinctively went to her waist, as if it were a routine. — "Innocent." — He finally answered, mentally berating himself. He didn't understand why, but he could never blame her. No matter how crazy she was, he simply couldn't.

It was as if something bound them together, but what? That was the point Kuzuryu wanted to make. He had never in his life been in love with anyone. And if he felt anything romantic, it was so minimal that he didn't even act on it.

"It was her." He kept repeating to himself.

Maybe, it was. Maybe, it wasn't.

— "Now your game begans, you know that, right?" — Her eyes gazed at him with an intensity that could burn. Her hands tensed slightly, as if they trembled when it came to him.

— "Are you implying something with that?" — He asked. He could read her, and of course he did. So much time together... it was like they were glued together. Wherever he went, she was already there. It was... eerie, but he felt protected. Like a dark angel was watching over him.

— "Don't die, please." — Mira pleaded, her eyes reflecting something Kuzuryu couldn't decipher. But he did know there was a hint of desperation there, a deep desperation that he would stay with her.

That he should not abandon her, that he should not forget her.

— I won't.. life. — Kuzuryu replied, that's what he used to call her. "Life"

She was life to a man who had seen it all, who was dangerously depressed. She brought a bloody hue to his gray life.

— "I love you." —

— "... I know." —

The curious thing? That last dialogue, neither of them said it with words.